Google Applications Name Changing Throughout History

 

Google constantly rebrands its apps, but most people don't even realize it. Recently, the company quietly changed the name of its Google Wallet app to "Google Pay." 

While the change may seem minor, it's part of a larger strategy by Google to unify all of its payment products under one brand.

This blog post will light up Google's recent rebrandings and why they are crucial.

We'll also discuss some of the other recent changes that have been made to Google's apps and services. Stay tuned!

But before diving right into the main facts, let’s know a brief history of Google's innovation. Specifically, we’ll be covering:

 

• Brief History Covering Google’s Innovations
• Google AdWords >>> Google Ads
• Google My Business >>> Google Business Profile
• G Suite >>> Google Workspace
• A Quick Look Into Google+ 
• Google Reader Vanished: Why Exactly?

That being said, let’s dive right in…

A Brief History Covering Google’s Innovations

From February 10, 2006, Google started testing a version of the “Apps for your domain” aka “Google Workspace” at San Jose City College, hosting Gmail accounts with SJCC domain addresses and admin tools for account management.

On August 28, 2006, Google launched Google Apps for Your Domain, a set of apps for organizations. 

Available for free as a beta service, it included Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, and Google Page Creator, which was later replaced with Google Sites. 

And that was only just the beginning of a digital era that would sooner be controlled by the tech GIANT Google themselves. 

And after that, google introduced more and more innovative features and applications regularly.

After a decade of continuous innovations and rebranding, here we are, where google is still evolving and rebranding its applications. 

So, first on the list we have is Google AdWords rebranding as Google Ads!

Google AdWords >>> Google Ads

Google AdWords has been rebranded as Google Ads, and its other advertising tools have been combined under Google Marketing Platform and Google Ad Manager.

Google Ads, formerly known as Google AdWords, is designed to make it easier for main street brick-and-mortar businesses to reach potential shoppers by advertising across partner pages, video, Search, and more.

Google is developing Smart Campaigns for small businesses, a simpler approach to target people who are ready to phone, visit the store to make a purchase, or browse online.

According to Google:

"We discovered that Smart campaigns are three times more effective at getting your ad in front of the proper audience."

The new Google Ads aims to make advertising outside of the search box easy and for businesses to build ads that help them sell.

This should disperse the advertising spend among a wide range of ad-driven websites.

Here is how Google explained it:

To assist marketers in connecting with the billions of people who use Google Search to get answers, watch videos on YouTube,

explore new places on Google Maps, discover apps on Google Play, browse content across the web, and more.

G Suite >>> Google Workspace

Google Workspace is the new name for G Suite. Gmail and Docs are some business productivity tools with a new logo and more features.

G Suite is becoming more and more a part of the tools we use to communicate and work together. 

Google thinks it's time for a new brand for the digital office environment now that more people work from home and because G Suite has gotten a lot of new features in recent months.

The new name for Google Workspace shows customers and users that the apps work better together and are more linked. 

So, the Workspace application logos will be changed to have the same colours as the current Google logo.

Google My Business >>> Google Business Profile

Google My Business is being renamed Google Business Profile as part of Google's efforts to move more business profile management out of the Google My Business app and directly into Google Search, Google Maps, and their separate applications.

So it's safe to assume that Google Business Profile will be the new name for Google My Business in the future.

Google stated that the new name was chosen to "keep things simple," adding that the Google My Business app will be retired by 2022.

If we go back in time before it was called Google My Business, it was called Google Places, and before that, it was called Google Local.

And... yeah, the Google Business Profile has been named numerous times in the past, and the tracks have now come to a stand at "Google Business Profile."

A Quick Look Into Google+ 

Google Plus, the so-called proclaimed social media platform of google, is not around. Google Currents will replace Google Plus for enterprise users after consumer accounts were shut down last year.

The Google Plus Android and iOS applications have been renamed Google Currents to reflect the launch of Currents today (via 9to5Google).

Google says users can post and comment on discussions and view items in a News Feed-like "home stream" ordered by relevance or chronology.

G Suite admins can regulate discussions as google began phasing out Google Plus in 2018 due to "poor usage and engagement.

The corporation also found security flaws that influenced its termination (one of the critical reasons which accelerated the shutdown plans by four months).

In April 2019, Google began deleting customer Google Plus accounts and released Currents in testing.

Google had a Currents magazine app until 2013. Google Play Newsstand was later replaced by Google News and rebranded that year.

Google Reader Vanished: Why Exactly?

For some time, Google has been developing a Reader Mode in Chrome, which hides website components other than the primary text. 

The option mysteriously vanished in the most recent Chrome 101 update, but it is returning.

Reader Mode or a simplified view is available in Firefox, Safari, and other web browsers; however, Chrome does not.

Chrome's developers have been working on the feature, which can only be accessed by setting a feature flag — one of the browser's many secret options for web developers or those testing the latest Chrome developments.

The flag required for Reader Mode was removed in the most recent Chrome update, version 101, which puzzled at least a few individuals. Fortunately, it does not appear that Reader Mode will be eliminated.

Our Verdict:

Google has always been a company that is willing to take risks and try new things. This can be seen in their rebranding efforts over the years.

Since Broadstreet, is a competent technical team that works closely with Google, we know that more than anyone.

Though some of these changes have been successful, while others have not had the desired effect, why does Google keep trying to rebrand?

There are a few possible reasons. Maybe they want to shake things up and get people talking about them again. Or maybe they’re trying to redefine themselves as a company in light of changing technologies or consumer trends.

Whatever the reason, it will be interesting to see what changes lie ahead for Google – and how consumers react this time around.