In March, Google announced Google Voice, a new addition to the company’s toolbox of technology crafted to improve and simplify the way we manage our phone calls, texts and voicemail.  The concept stems from GrandCentral, bought by Google a few years ago.

The tool enables users to use a single number for all incoming home, work or mobile calls simultaneously.  Did I mention this service is FREE?  Now that I have your attention, while the technology does not seem as impressive as some new media tools, it is most definitely a needed convenience in the busy lives of many.  In addition, those already using the service are grateful, with more time freed up from organizing and synchronizing work and personal connections and scheduling.  Let’s point out the obvious-you could essentially never miss a call.

Initially, the new service was only available to existing GrandCentral clients.  Now, those who email Google to request the service will get back an invite via email for it.  Customers are able to select their own number, and begin controlling their phones…all of them. 

While the innovative service remains free of charge at the moment, it should be interesting to see how the tool affects Google’s mobile strategy in time.  Relayed by Deep Blue Ineractive, your Fort Lauderdale web design and interactive marketing team.

Thursday a German data protection official threatened search powerhouse Google with “unspecified sanctions” should the company not conform with the country’s strict privacy laws regarding the use of Google Street View.

German data protection regulator for the city of Hamburg, Johannes Caspar, relayed that officials were leaning toward using force to pursue unspecified sanctions unless Google provided written guarantees agreeing to alterations before 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday.  Google’s German headquarters is located in Hamburg.

It seems the two entities are of differing opinion when it comes to 12 points involving the operation of Google’s Street View.  One example is that in Germany, there are privacy laws in place that forbid distribution of pictures taken of individuals on their property without their consent.

Currently, Google is posting the captured data and removing it when a subject/property owner makes a complaint.  Some are concerned about Google’s handling of the data it records that has been removed.  In Germany, private citizens may also sue Google in German court for unauthorized filming.

In the city of Kiel on the Baltic Sea, residents placed stickers on their doors last year warning Google not to film their property on Google Street View.  Google has been diligently compiling photos of France, Italy, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands and more in Europe since 2008 for its new Street View feature.  Thus far, approximately 300 people in Germany have voiced complaints to officials regarding the filming.

Google has not yet determined a date for introducing Street View into Germany, which is the largest of the European economy.  Both sides are working to resolve the impasse.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, South Florida web design and online marketing firm.

Stephen Wolfram of Wolfram Research and his team have been discreetly developing WolframAlpha for years.  WolframAlpha is a search tool intended to answer lengthy, more in-depth queries.  What Wolfram was very clear on, is that the new search tool is not intended to compete with Google, despite chatter to the contrary and the fact that the tool does not search web pages.

WolframAlpha has the capacity to answer a wide variety of search queries, making it a very useful and anticipated web product.  While creator Stephen Wolfram may be interested in developing potential partnerships with search companies, he is displeased with rumors that WolframAlpha is aligning itself to compete with them.

The anticipated WolframAlpha will not help with movie times or camera shopping, but rather it will provide the answers to longer queries using the plethora of data the company has accumulated.  The web product is expected to be available at worlframalpha.com this month, yet it will not be a completed product at the time of its release.  The project will begin as a working version, and amass increasing amounts of information over the years, providing better answers to complicated queries.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, your Florida web design and SEO solution.

The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Association of Research Libraries have implored that a federal judge to pay special attention to the class-action settlement between Google, authors and publishers in the Google Book Search controversy.

In a court filling the three groups asked Judge Denny Chin of Federal District Court to provide continued oversight of the settlement, as a measure to ensure that the pricing Google charges for subscriptions to its digital library are not too high from lack of competition.  Google Book Search is the only tool of its kind so far, a natural monopoly, and the company has set up alliances.

The groups have also voiced their concern to Judge Chin regarding the privacy of readers of the online books.  Google has repeatedly stated that it will place the privacy of users foremost.  Google, the Author’s Guild and the Association of American Publishers maintain their stance that the deal is beneficial for authors, publishers as well as the public.  Google has assured all parties that Google Book Search will not prevent competition.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, your Florida online marketing resource.

There are people who use MySpace, Facebook, and those who feel compelled to use both social networking sites.  MySpace has the title of the country’s leading social networking service, yet has been slowly losing its users.

There is a recent trend showing some users gravitating to other social media networks, notably Facebook.  According to ComScore, MySpace users are younger and have lower incomes than Facebook users, so it is important to separate user demographics in order to obtain a more complete perspective on the issue.
The trend for parents, executives and career-oriented individuals to choose Facebook over MySpace is mostly due to the available features incorporated into the site that make it ideal for business connects and use.  The music industry is still connected deeply to MySpace, where nearly every band seems to have a MySpace page for fans. 

Social networks are evolving and becoming a part of everyday personal and business dealings, with new features and politics keeping users interested.  It seems that the platform MySpace utilizes simply does not offer enough interactive features to satisfy a user base that is becoming accustomed to them.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, SEO web design and internet marketing firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.