Google Buzz Has Critics Buzzing

Amidst the land of email, tweets, status updates, text messages, and IM’s comes yet another social networking tool – this time from Google.

In a quest to capture more of the social web market share, the Internet search leader has launched Google Buzz – a new networking service for their Gmail customers which gives users an opportunity to network and share updates, photos, and videos with their current email contacts through their computer, hand-held device and mobile phone.

And even though Buzz was just announced yesterday, it already has fellow industry techies buzzing about the potential for customers to get stung with this service.

With no separate set-up or establishment of a new friend list required, Google Buzz allows consumers to automatically share updates with the people they already email and chat with the most. Similar to Facebook, users can communicate with one person or their entire network at a time.

In addition to the ability to automatically pull photos from links, play videos inline, and flip through large-sized photos quickly, what Google is hoping will set them apart is the integrated service and its location app.

Buzz customers can also send and receive updates from friends in their email inboxes or on their cell phones. But therein lies the problem according to Fast Company, who called Google’s entry into social networking “scary,” because of worries related possible advertising blitzes on our mobile phones.

Another feature experts find scary is the built-in location app, which allows a user’s network to know where they are sending updates from at any time. “The location aspect of Buzz freaks me out, but I'm like that with Twitter too,” stated CNet’s Josh Lowensohn on its website. “It's just way too easy to forget to toggle it on and off, and then the whole world knows where your house is, and maybe your shiny new TV you just wrote about.”

And even though Buzz is not (yet) connected with Facebook, David Coursey of PC World stated on his site, “If Google Buzz is ever connected to Facebook, it will be the beginning of the end for today's #1 social network.” Coursey added, “As a Facebook user, the last thing I need in my life is another social networking service. I have lots of friends – business and personal – on Facebook. It plays an important role in my home and work life. What I don't need is for my friends to start dividing themselves into Facebook users and Buzz users.”

But Google stands firm in its service and is ready to compete.

”With Buzz, we hope you can start interesting conversations about places and be more spontaneous when you are out and about,” Google stated on their mobile blog. “How many times have you missed a fun event, even though it was nearby? Or a better choice of dessert, just because you didn't know about it? How often have you wondered, "Where are you?" when reading a text message from a friend? Now, you can use Buzz to learn that there is going to be a movie night at your favorite park, share with the world that there is an awesome ice cream place right around the corner, or tell your friends about that delicious homemade lasagna.”

While a new social networking tool isn’t exactly news, the fact that Buzz brings so many features together under one service may give consumers more of what they’re looking for – and more of a reason to tell rivals to buzz off.