Next Google disruption? Search giant dips toe into sharing economy
- Cromwell Schubarth
- Senior Technology Reporter- Silicon Valley Business Journal
- Email | Twitter | Google+
The Google Operating System blog reported that an app called Google Mine lets users of Google+ keep track of the items they own or would like to own, as well as offer to share some of their possessions within their circles.
That's a lot different from offering your car or your home to strangers but it's a start that could take a bite out of the sharing economy if its catches on.
Startups and apps that offer online ratings could also be disrupted by Google Mine because it lets folks share what they think about what they own within their Google+ circles, too.
Here's Google's description of the app that the blog quotes:
"Google Mine lets you organize the things you own, use, wish for, and more: gadgets, clothing, electronics, DVDs, cars, bikes or anything!
"It also enables social interactions around them with your Circles using Google+:
* Catalog your belongings, track what you have.
* Review your belongings for your friends to see.
* Control who sees what, track conversations.
* Send requests to borrow or try out friends' stuff.
* Share stuff you wish for, get recommendations.
* Share stuff you are giving away, find takers.
*Follow, browse, search stuff that friends share."
There is already a company using the name Mine for an online and mobile directory of people and purchases. It was launched late last year by former Twitter Product Marketing manager Pierre Legrain and former Lightspeed fellows Siddharth Batra and Deepak Rao. But it has more of an e-commerce focus than a sharing economy angle.
Cromwell Schubarth is the Senior Technology Reporter at the Business Journal. His phone number is 408.299.1823.
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