Google is taking down Gizmo5 after integrating VoIP telephony service into Gmail/Gtalk

Image via CrunchBase

Yet another company is facing a shutdown after being acquired by Google. Gizmo5 here was acquired by search  giant Google in 2009 and according to its website and as reported by TechCrunch here will be shutdown on April 3, 2011. Basically Gizmo5 services will be discontinued. Gizmo5 was the creator of various VoIP services that after being acquired by Google were integrated into Gmail and Gtalk. This continues to be an example of how larger Internet intermediaries are acquiring smaller companies and strengthening their position in the communications market.

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• Soon You'll Be Able To Make Phone Calls From Your Gmail Inbox [Unconfirmed] (gizmodo.com)
• Google Voice Desktop Client Could Be On the Way [Rumors] (lifehacker.com)

Sloppy Google - Website and video shows what would happen if Google was human operated

Image via Wikipedia

Have you ever wondered what would happen to Google if it was actually operated with humanistic characteristics? This would mean being lazy and laid back while taking search requests from users and trying to give back search results. An artistic website called Detour Lab presents a Sloppy twin of Google here, a yawning search engine with humanistic characteristics. Its worth a visit and it does make us think of how things would be the other way around. 

Related articles

• Meet Google's Evil Twin, Google Sloppy [VIDEO] (mashable.com)
• 'Sloppy Google' Is Like Going to the DMV (VIDEO) (blippitt.com)
• What if Google Search Was Lazy? [Video] (thenextweb.com)
• 'Sloppy Google' Is Lazy And Incompetent, Like A Human (techcrunch.com)
• Sloppy Google (rubbishcorp.com)