Google is at it again, adding yet another new product this year called Google Wave. Google Wave is a web-based application promising to bring together e-mail, chat, wiki and social networking in a clean and organized platform. The system works in real-time, and features some potentially useful collaborative tools including live translator extensions and virtual conference calling.
With that said, what does it Google Wave really do? While Wave is not completely released yet, a few of us at SMT got a sneak peak invitation into the beta version, and all I can say is... huh? Besides for Wave's simplistic yet confusing layout, it seems that Google Wave is essentially a regurgitation of existing collaboration applications like Vyew or Yugma mixed together with a few existing Google products. I'll admit the potential for file sharing and real-time collaboration is there, with features like RSVP tools, live editing and many other gadgets, but Google Wave's over-simplified system does not seem to deliver all that was promised.
The main dashboard of Google Wave features an inbox, much like Gmail's, but with 'Waves' instead of emails. From there a user can open waves which can be updated in real-time and can be accessed by several users.
[Screenshot below of Google Wave's Dashboard (and only screen)]
For example: In my inbox is a Wave sent from a colleague containing the agenda to today's staff meeting. After opening the Wave I can then make real-time suggestions and edits to the agenda, and RSVP using the "Yes, No, Maybe" gadget included in the Wave. If other colleagues also have the Wave open at the same time, they will see me making changes to the agenda and have the ability to respond as well. Again, the potential for Wave to be a good collaboration tool is there, but I can't quite see the platform becoming a Social Networking tool like promised.
Perhaps the issue is simply the lack of participants in Google Wave so far, but I don't see how it will allow users to network and build relationships online like other popular social networks Twitter and Facebook. Many marketers had speculated that Wave would be Google's answer to social Media, but with the current lack of a user profile (or anything brandable for that matter) networking seems unlikely.
[Screenshot below of Google Wave's "profile"]
So far, Google Wave seems like Gmail with a few basic collaborative tools built in, not the robust one-stop-shop we were promised. The good news is that with an API from Google and the help of a few developers we could soon be seeing interaction with real social networks. Who knows, Google Wave could be the next Tweetdeck/Gmail/Flickr/Vyew mashup. I'll keep tabs on Google Wave and re-evaluate once the full version is released. Bottom line: if you didn't get invited to test the beta Google Wave, don't be disappointed. You're not missing much... yet. Check back for a follow up post once Wave is fully released.