When invitations for Google Wave began circulating in early October, the usual excitement that accompanies a new Google release was mixed with a degree of confusion. The name was intriguing, but the question remained: what exactly does it do?
Google Wave describes itself as “an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration.”
“A wave can be both a conversation and a document,” its website says, “where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.”
That description may technically cover Google Wave’s abilities, but it still doesn’t give a clear picture of how it functions. Luckily, Epipheo Studios has gone to the trouble of making a short video outlining what Google Wave aims to do:
Blogger Daniel Tenner perhaps explains it best when he writes:
“Google calls Wave an ‘online tool for real-time communication and collaboration’. The way Google should have advertised Wave is: ‘it solves the problems with email’.”
But how can a tool focused on email be used to promote property listings? jaap.nl, the Netherlands’ number two ranked property portal, has come up with an answer.
A jaap.nl blog post explains that Google Wave can now allow its users to find their dream house together. House hunters add jaap.nl’s details to Google Wave, create a new “wave”, and invite their friends to give feedback on a listing they are interested in.
jaap.nl has made its own video showing how the process works:
In an interview with emerce.com, jaap.nl director Hans Voorn said that while the portal’s use of Google Wave could be seen as a gimmick, jaap.nl hopes the innovation will help to counter the current market monopoly – presumably in reference to Dutch market leader funda.nl.
It seems jaap.nl is particularly keen to stay on top of new technology offerings: it’s also one of the portals taking advantage of Layar’s augmented reality browser to promote its listings.
Advertising Partner
-->
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Does anyone have a spear Wave invite, please email to bobybob@bigfoot.com
{ 1 trackback }