Google – Too Big to Keep It’s Promise? Chrome “Launched” But Nowhere To Be Found
It seems the blogosphere is awash with talk of Google Chrome, a browser that Google is launching.. Though, according to their Blog, it was meant to be available across the world today..
“We will be launching the beta version of Google Chrome tomorrow in more than 100 countries.”
9/01/2008 02:10:00 PM [http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/fresh-take-on-browser.html]
Though at present, there seems to be no sight of the Browser at the promised URL of http://www.google.com/chrome, or the legacy url of http://gears.google.com/chrome
Strangely enough, last night, when I stumbled across this story, I happened to find a page at the gears.google.com/chrome web page, which let me choose my language of choice, and then download chrome – unfortunately, at the time, nothing seemed to happen when I selected my language of choice, and started the installation process.. Thinking perhaps I needed to install Gears first, I went to the google Gears website, installed gears, returned to the Chrome download page, and surprise surprise, it was no longer there!!! Instead, I was re-directed to the Main Google webpage..
It’s kinda ironic, that a company as large as google can release a cartoon, that does a great job of explaining their product to techies, they can write a blog post announcing the launch of their product, and then not make their new product available at all.. Instead of it being publicly available today, as promised on their blog, it seems to be hidden away somewhere, out of sight, unavailable, and invisible to the public… Ironic really, that most people worry so much about the “timing” of their launches, making sure everything goes smoothly, according to plan, and instead of delivering on their word, they’re keeping everyone waiting.. This could be an entirely deliberate marketing ploy, to drum up lots of interest, and activity around the internet about the product – but truthfully, if they had just launched the product, there would have been just as much interest, and talk about chrome, with people discussing it’s features, rating, and reviewing it, and generally just comparing it to other browsers… But this way, it seems, with the cartoon, and caricatures, and then non-delivery of the actual software that was promised for launch today, you have to wonder, if a company as large as Google, is capable of keeping it’s word to it’s customers…
It really does make me wonder, if they can write on their blog about a product launch, and then not deliver it, then what does that say about the credibility of the company? Perhaps they think they can get away with it, because of their size.. but I believe that inherently, there is an issue of trust, that gets slowly eroded, when companies the size of google don’t deliver on what they promise they say they would do. It’s all very well when the company blogs about releasing a product the next day, and then doesn’t – but what about when they promise that they’ll be there when you need them?? Or when they promise they’re services will be available, and all of a sudden they’re not??
It’s one thing to keep Gmail in Beta, for months after it’s knowingly being used as a critical email piece of many people’s every day lives, but when you say on your blog that you’re offering a new product the following day, and don’t deliver – I wonder what that says about the way in which Google keeps themselves accountable for their word, to their customers… So far, can’t say I’ve been impressed with Google’s blunder.. Especially as there seems to be no official announcement, or comment, to update folks looking for Google Chrome… I for one am going to just ignore it for a few days, instead of adding fuel to the fire of desperation, and desire to see Google Chrome… After all, if they can’t keep their word of delivering it when promised, why should I waste any more of my time looking for something, that clearly isn’t yet ready for the world?? What do you think?? Should a company such as Google be allowed to make promises, and then not keep them?? Or is there some way we can possibly hold such a large international company accountable for making such false promises?? I would love to hear your thoughts, both in blog track backs, and in comments..
