Today I received an invite to Google Voice, the new service that aims to put your phone where Google wants everything else: in their cloud. The service actually seems quite useful, if it wasn't for the fact that it's not easy these days to change your number in friends' contact lists...but that's not the topic of this post, only the genesis. As I navigated to Google Voice through their Apps pages, I was taken aback at the sheer number listed there. I mean, there are over 40 different apps and services in the Google stable these days. 40. When did this happen? This got me thinking, with Google's announcement of a new lightweight OS...which of these will make the cut when ChromeOS goes prime time?No Brainers:
I don't care if Larry Page or Larry the Cable Guy is managing this product (see what I did there?). There's no way these aren't making it into the final version of ChromeOS in some form or another.
Chrome (Duh)
Docs
Gmail
Desktop
Reader
Talk
They're in...right?:
It's like Tiger at the Master's. He's gonna be in the last group on Sunday...right? It's almost a sure thing.
Calendar
Reader
Earth/Maps
Voice
YouTube
Contenders:
More of a Chicago Cubs situation. They're good, but just don't seem to have the pieces together. Yes, I'm going to keep the sports analogies rolling...deal with it.
Blogger
Finance
Translate
Picasa
Checkout
Fat Chance:
Seeing these products in the final version of ChromeOS is about as likely as a BCS playoff. I don't care what the President wants.
Orkut
Knol
GOOG-411
Health
Groups
We still don't know much (or really anything) about the new OS, but it stands to reason that Google will heavily leverage their existing portfolio of applications and services. To what extent, I'm guessing not even Larry Page...or Larry the Cable Guy, knows for certain.
