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Google Trims Fat, Plans To Cut 6 Services

As if word of layoffs isn't dire enough, Google also is looking to save money by halting the forward movement of six of its products. One of them, Google Notebook, happens to be a handy tool that I've been using for well over a year. Also among the affected is Google Video.

This has been a bleak week. Layoffs have been reported by Motorola, Seagate, and Google. Microsoft is also said to be exploring reductions in staffing levels. We also saw Apple CEO Steve Jobs step down from his leadership role yesterday due to health reasons. Now, more bad news.

Google has decided that at least six of its products are not doing well enough to merit continued development or engineer support. The products are Google Video, Google Catalog Search, Google Mashup Editor, Google Notebook, Dodgeball, and Jaiku.

Google Video, in particular, should have been obvious to most. Google just doesn't need it. YouTube more than compensates, and Google has been slowly adding to the features of its Picasa Web Albums product, including the ability to upload and edit video content.

I am an avid user of Google Notebook. Since it is accessible via mobile phones, I often use it to save notes that I want to be able to access from my PC later. From now on, looks like I'll finally need to bite the bullet and start using EverNote.

Both Google's Mashup Editor and Jaiku are being partially folded into the Google App Engine.

Google says of Dodgeball, "Some of you may also be familiar with Dodgeball.com, a mobile social networking service that lets you share your location with friends via text message. We have decided to discontinue Dodgeball.com in the next couple of months, after which this service will no longer be available. We will communicate the exact timeframe shortly."

With the passing of these services, we have to question which Google services are next. What more fat is there to trim? Google itself hasn't given any indication, but CNet suggests that Knol, Google Base, and Grand Central may be next in line.

Are you sad to see any of these services go? If so, which ones?

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