Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
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Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
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Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#2For once, the answer to the title isn't obviously "no."
Can you imagine Gmail as the new Lotus Notes? Specially as third-party vendors flock in to fill the gaps? The potential for lock-in is absolutely dizzying; moving away from Gmail once you have your whole workflow automated would feel like going back to punch cards.
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#3For once, the answer to the title isn't obviously "no." Can you imagine Gmail as the new Lotus Notes? Specially as third-party vendors flock in to fill the gaps? The potential for lock-in is absolutely dizzying; moving away from Gmail once you have your whole workflow automated would feel like going back to punch cards.
Exactly. pg has also written about "using your email as a todo list" (in Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund) to partially address the problem of email being more than just a dumb box for all incoming information. Email as it exists today is very obviously broken, and very few players are in a position to change it. (Although there must be some startups with the frighteningly ambitious plan to replace email as we know it today.)
Of course it remains to be seen whether this is just a first move by Google towards a big goal or whether Google is just playing with new Gmail functionality to see what happens.
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#4I am skeptical. There are apps out there extending Gmail's possibilities, already. Look at Streak (http://streak.com), look at Right Inbox (http://rightinbox.com). They are based on Chrome extensions. People use them if they need. The real trouble is Gmail becoming a bulky web app in time. Sending money, now actions in the Inbox. Lots of features, majority will not use. It is unclear, if Gmail will remain an simple email platform (which was the initial idea) or Google's promotion/enforcement ground.
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#5For once, the answer to the title isn't obviously "no." Can you imagine Gmail as the new Lotus Notes? Specially as third-party vendors flock in to fill the gaps? The potential for lock-in is absolutely dizzying; moving away from Gmail once you have your whole workflow automated would feel like going back to punch cards.
Exactly. pg has also written about "using your email as a todo list" (in Startup Ideas We'd Like to Fund) to partially address the problem of email being more than just a dumb box for all incoming information. Email as it exists today is very obviously broken, and very few players are in a position to change it. (Although there must be some startups with the frighteningly ambitious plan to replace email as we know it…
Email is only broken from the authentification point of view.
The idea of using email for every need is broken.
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#6Great read, and I'm expecting this to happen sooner too.
Think it something like -- the core-emailing is there within gmail, but extend the functionalities via services. Some external app uses to build services on top of emailing.
Something like -- Hootsuite on top of twitter, Hootsuite manages and adds value by its own apps.
Think: we have Gmail powered apps? A link on top like: my-installed-apps -- to easily navigate and find newer apps for your workflows.
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#7I am skeptical. There are apps out there extending Gmail's possibilities, already. Look at Streak ( http://streak.com ), look at Right Inbox ( http://rightinbox.com ). They are based on Chrome extensions. People use them if they need. The real trouble is Gmail becoming a bulky web app in time. Sending money, now actions in the Inbox. Lots of features, majority will not use. It is unclear, if Gmail will remain an simp…
Unfortunately Steve Jobs broke the lock on the Pandora's Box that contained Walled Gardens so in light of that, this seems an obvious step for Google and could likely work simply because of scale and ease of adoption - something that the existing apps don't have in comparison.
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#8I am skeptical. There are apps out there extending Gmail's possibilities, already. Look at Streak ( http://streak.com ), look at Right Inbox ( http://rightinbox.com ). They are based on Chrome extensions. People use them if they need. The real trouble is Gmail becoming a bulky web app in time. Sending money, now actions in the Inbox. Lots of features, majority will not use. It is unclear, if Gmail will remain an simp…
I use one of the other Chrome extensions extending GMail: http://www.activeinboxhq.com/. It works well.
The one thing Google will need to address is GMail's memory usage - it's bad enough on its own, but once you start adding extensions to it... I no longer keep GMail open unless absolutely necessary.
[Edit: link corrected]
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#9Users should be encouraged to click on less things in their email, not more. Phishers, and other malicious actors will
Re: Is Google turning Gmail into an App platform?
#10I'd love for another company to come out that has the clean interface and reliability of gmail, with even more security and better customer service. This is a great time for a disruptor.
Any company can compete with many Google products if they have a product that is almost as good, if not better, with way better customer service.