Google Services Which are Shut Down

[MrGamm]

I know this post happened in January... But it is a good reminder in these economic times that not even Google who makes billions of dollars per year can afford to keep great services running.

The Google Code Blog: Changes for Jaiku and Farewell to Dodgeball and Mashup Editor

Why do you think they would shut these services down and upset all of those people?

[zeruel]

Ohh. Maybe because they have greater services than that? Not like Yahoo that already closed lots of their services..

[MrGamm]

You are like me... I could see through the recession too... I think they just don't care about all the people who invested hours or months into those products beta testing it. I think google should at the very least put them on payroll or send them a thank you note for all of their hard efforts. Know what I mean?

I would have hated to be one of those people who spent 500-1000 hours developing platform specific mashup code... or one of those people who made a huge website in page creator for thier community... or one of the people who had a huge social network in dodgeball or jaidu...

What's next? Paid search listings only? Maybe they will shut down Blogger next?

[wige]

There is never any guarantee that software that is in Beta will be released. If product testing doesn't show the product will benefit the company, why should they continue putting resources into it? Should they throw a million dollars into developing an application that they will only lose money on, or maybe lay off a few hundred people to offset the costs, just so they can avoid mildly inconveniencing a few hundred people who were warned the projects could be discontinued?

As for Yahoo's policy of "if it works and users like it, discontinue it and replace it with buggy and less functional replacements that will make our customers leave in droves", well, that one even I can't explain.

[MrGamm]

I wonder when they will discontinue Gmail and call it Google Enterprise email?

It is still in beta...

I will bet you there were more than just a few hundred people using dodgeball, and jaidu... I'll bet it was a few thousand if not a few hundred thousand... I read alot of info on dodgeball... it was pretty popular...

This snapshot from the internet archives would suggest it was popular in 22 US states.

dodgeball.com :: mobile social software

That could be more than just a few hundred people...

[wige]

Well, Gmail still carries a disclaimer that it could be discontinued at any time.

Originally Posted by http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS?hl=en

4.3 As part of this continuing innovation, you acknowledge and agree that Google may stop (permanently or temporarily) providing the Services (or any features within the Services) to you or to users generally at Google’s sole discretion, without prior notice to you. You may stop using the Services at any time. You do not need to specifically inform Google when you stop using the Services.

[MrGamm]

Well... I am glad I don't have to tell them when I stop using their services. I am sure they know anyways...

[Feydakin]

This is why I always recommend that people NEVER use a free service for mission critical business apps.. There are countless stories of people having their GMail account closed for "no reason" and it causing no end of grief for them because that was their "business" email..

[advancedmerchant]

Originally Posted by Feydakin

This is why I always recommend that people NEVER use a free service for mission critical business apps.. There are countless stories of people having their GMail account closed for "no reason" and it causing no end of grief for them because that was their "business" email..

I agree with Feydakin 100% - using a free email, youtube, or any other free account for your business is BAD business. You have no control, and they can change the rules on you at any time. Sire, they offer a great way to get bootstrapped, but need to be replaced with professional solutions ASAP.