Search engine giant Google recently introduced a new service known as Google Wave. Google believes that its new service will revolutionize online communication. Google Wave can soon replace email. This service stores conversations as a thread of data on a server using “Wave Protocol”. Google hopes that the new service would email obsolete as the new service provides a much better way of communicating online.
Wave protocol makes use of cloud computing, a new paradigm that allows users to store, edit and retrieve data and run applications from a central server rather than the local computer. Google is trying to take cloud computing one step further by implementing an open protocol.
Google Waves integrates online communication, instant messaging, social networking and collaboration into a simple and single application.
Google Wave also allows users to collaborate in real-time. Users can work on the same document together and finish the work much faster. Traditionally, users have to work on the document and email it to other editors, take suggestions, edit it again and so on. Google Waves simplifies this and makes the entire process much faster.
In the very near future, Google will release the API for Google Wave. The API or Application Programming Interface is software code that allows other developers to develop software on the existing technology. Google also plans to make Google Wave an open source application so that other developers can develop it further and enhance it.
Using Google Wave API programmers will be able to develop plugins to extend the functionality of Google Wave further. They will also be able to create software applications that integrate with Google Wave. Some extensions are already in development. For example, developers are currently working on a Sudoku puzzle, conference calls, document sharing, travel booking and business collaboration.
Google Wave was first developed by Google Australia. The idea was first proposed in 2007.
Currently, the service is in beta stage. Around 100,000 users are testing the service. Google will take note of users’ suggestions and work on improving the service.
[Request an invitation to try Google Wave]