Google Wave to be previewed

A new communications tool dubbed Google Wave will be previewed by selected developers from today (September 30th).

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Over 100,000 people who have agreed to test the system will give their feedback on how well it works.

Google hopes that the new product, which allows groups of people to collaborate on tasks at one time by combining email, social networking and instant messaging, will provide a platform for better online communication.

The search engine revealed in its official blog that developers who have been active in the Wave preview since June, first users who offered to give responses on wave.google.com and select customers of Google Apps will be invited to offer feedback.

Lars Rasmussen, engineering manager at Google, and Stephanie Hannon, group product manager at the company, said that users of the Wave platform will have the opportunity to be more productive when communicating and collaborating.

It can be used to share photos, organise events, manage release processes and debate features, they added.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley phone company Ribbit is one of the firms which has shown interest in the product.

Ted Griggs, chief executive officer at Ribbit, said Google Waves is breaking down silos by bringing together a multitude of communication tools.

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