Alpha Beta GoogleNobody can deny the success of Google. They are giant. Mammoth. Potentially being targeted by the government for infringement of anti-trust laws because they basically eat market share for breakfast. Currently being honored at the Cooper-Hewitt by a well publicized exhibit. What is the formula to their success? Nobody really knows. Of course there are the obvious hugely contributing factors such as their innovative approach to the war for talent, their “don’t be evil” business mantra, their search algorithm and patented PageRank technology, their brilliantly strategic partnerships, their plethora of offerings including Gmail and Google Apps, etc. The list is arguably endless. However, there is one important thing that Google has that I believe helps them maintain their status as King of the Internet Castle: constant innovation.On the crest of this innovation wave: a new Google App that allows users to sync Google Apps with Mircosoft Outlook. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/09/google-apps-press-event-the-riveting-real-time-notes/Yet, Google is the first to hedge their innovations bets for the sake of preserving their stellar reputation. A key example of this is the company’s relationship with the infamous Beta tag. Currently, the logos of more than 20 of Google’s 40 plus products are still carrying the Beta tag (meaning the product is still in testing phases). This is true even for Gmail, the rampantly used email platform. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/20/googles-beta-love-may-die-in-fight-for-enterprise-customers/However, with the move towards catering to enterprise clients, Google is learning that this “have it both ways” strategy may not be ubiquitously accepted. While Google apps still carry the Beta tag, the company is realizing that while users won’t blink at a Beta tag, enterprise clients need their digital tools to work and work without fail (something a Beta tag signifies as not always the case). This is arguably why Google removed the Beta tag from Google Chrome just months after it’s in-Beta launch. Google’s future relationship with the Beta tag: only time
