Google+ to Become a Platform Layer, Not a Product ⇥ techcrunch.com

Vic Gundotra is leaving Google. You heard that earlier today — I heard that earlier today, but I was at lunch. Good thing you don’t rely on me for breaking news, right? (Right?) It’s only natural to wonder what will become of his pet project, Google+. Matthew Panzarino and Alexia Tsotsis of TechCrunch think they know:

What we’re hearing from multiple sources is that Google+ will no longer be considered a product, but a platform — essentially ending its competition with other social networks like Facebook and Twitter. […]

One big change for Google+ is that there will no longer be a policy of “required” Google+ integrations for Google products, something that has become de rigueur for most product updates.

Google’s apparent philosophy for Google+ has never really matched the way they’ve integrated it into every damn product they make, and I think it’s really hurt their perception. I get that Gundotra and a large team invested considerable time and effort into building Google+, but its integration and Borg-like assimilation of all other products has always felt heavy-handed.