Grove Group Blog

Skype or Hangout? Which cloud solution first pops to mind when you need to collaborate with others? One of the many advantages of cloud computing is the array of great business level video conferencing applications that are now available.

Skype is a great quick and easy option, offering free and paid for versions where you simply click on a persons name and off you go. It’s also possible to make cheaper-rate calls to global landlines and mobiles and the solution comes with option to download the management console, Skype Manager. It is worth remembering though that you need a Premium account to chat to more than one person at a time.

Google+ Hangout is a great option too, launched straight from your mailbox or Google+ account, you get video conferencing and so much more. Free video conferencing for up to 15 people with an option to transmit ‘on air’ and a set of fully integrated apps with additional free email, calendar and social media platform. So, as they say, a bit more bang for your buck. There’s even an option to upgrade to a business account through Google Apps for Business for a mere $50 per user per year.

Each cloud application though has its pros and cons, so we’ve put together a list of what we think are the key differences between Skype and Google+ Hangouts.  

The secret is out and we now know what Facebook has been building - Graph Search.

Revealed at their much anticipated press release on January 15th the service is a ‘smarter internal search engine’.

Graph Search will let you search within your social Facebook graph for specifics - the example given was  ‘which of my friends live in New York?’. Your results will be ranked based on the friends you’ve had the most interaction with - as such, closer friends will appear higher up the results list.

Launched in June 2011, Google+ is Google’s Social Network - it is ‘the social spine that underpins everything Google does’, proving to be the social networking hub that integrates with most of Google’s products, specifically Google Apps for Business.

At Grove we believe that the Future of business is social, and that the trends of Social, Mobile & Cloud are revolutionising business. We’re even hosting a series of events in partnership with Google to discuss these trends with thought leaders in both the UK and South Africa. 

Google Apps for Business is a 100% web-based business productivity tool that contains everything you need to run your business (Email, Calendar, Documents, Storage & Websites). It helps reduce IT costs and increase productivity and flexibility - exactly what a business in todays’ world needs.

As Google+ turns 1 it can boast to being the fastest growing social network ever, connecting 250 million users in just 1 year.

But why should business care?

What the +??

Google will tell you that Google+ is different (from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn), and the truth is - it is [Video]. The web is changing, and so is the way we interact with it. It’s human nature to want to communicate and interact, to share, and to connect with others with the same interests.

With the Google I/O conference starting up yesterday the airwaves are buzzing with a load of new announcements, new products, and of course, updates on existing platforms.

Once such update announcement is that of Google+ Events - ensuring Google+ offers a ‘better, richer way for users to connect before, during and after events take place.’

It sounds great! We’re pretty excited (it has to be said) - and below we’re highlighting the key features, explaining why it’s so great for your business.