« Google Returns Search Web Option To Gmail | Main | YouTube Surpasses 100 Million U.S. Viewers for the First Time? »
March 4, 2009
Is Google's CEO That Stupid: Twitter "A Poor Man's Email"
Google CEO Eric Schmidt made some comments about social networking tools like Twitter, yesterday, that has to question how in touch he is to this burgeoning industry.
""Speaking as a computer scientist, I view all of these as sort of poor man's email systems," the Silicon Valley Insider reported he said at Morgan Stanley's technology conference.
Schmidt showed his lack of Twitter experience by not comprehending the concept of 140 character messages. His speech went on to plug Google's own social networking tools but downplayed any possibility of thinking Twitter could be the new method of search.
"Twitter's success is wonderful, and I think it shows you that there are many, many new ways to reach and communicate, especially if you are willing to do so publicly," the Valley Insider quoted Schmidt as saying.
Twitter is testing the use of a search option in some users interfaces right now, and if they continue down this road could be someone who seriously challenges Google. True it may not grab a lion's share of the search market but it could grab the immediate searches of its many members and down the road lead to a new way we interact with search - finding it at the interface of tools we are using - funny how Google returned their search button to Gmail - and not a site we go to at the start.
Posted by Frank Watson on March 4, 2009 10:54 AM
Comments
DeadCellZones.com March 4, 2009 11:29 AM
If Google is considering a Twitter acquisition, could Schmidt's comments be posturing?
Nathania Johnson March 4, 2009 11:34 AM
Tell me about it.. ! Such arrogance hurt MSFT bad.. I never expected this from Google.. !
valencio March 4, 2009 2:55 PM
I'm not sure that Schmidt's comment translates into "not comprehending the concept of 140 character messages" but more that he doesn't want to promote Twitter. I use Twitter and I'm not sure I understand the concept - I currently feel about Twitter what I used to feel about Facebook...it's one more thing to check and maintain. It's funny to read everyone defending Twitter as if Schmidt's words were sacrilegious. I'm indifferent.
Jamey March 5, 2009 7:43 AM
A POOR man's email? But isn't gmail free already? Plus you get 2 or 3 more characters per message than Twitter...
Maybe this guy is just a TWIT.
redpiano March 6, 2009 12:56 PM
Doesn't surprise me. Very myopic thinking seems to be fully entrenched in Google management and staff. I happened to meet with some of the Google Analytics team yesterday and they didn't know who Quantcast was. (2nd largest footprint on the web!) Truly amazing!