Introducing Google Buzz for mobile: See buzz around you and tag posts with your location.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | 11:09 AM

Today we announced Google Buzz, a new product that integrates with your Gmail inbox and makes it easy to start rich conversations about the things you find interesting. Google Buzz lets you share web links, photos, videos, and more with those who are important to you. Rather than simply creating a mobile version of Buzz, we decided to take advantage of the unique features of a mobile device - in particular, location. We go through many experiences when we're on the go, and while there are lots of ways to share these experiences with your friends or even the world, there isn't always an easy way to let your audience know where you are when you post. Your location brings valuable context to the information you share. For example, does "Delicious dinner!" mean you're at a great restaurant, or that you had a wonderful home-cooked meal? Your mobile phone, which is with you almost all the time, can help answer these questions.

Google Buzz for mobile allows you to post buzz and keep up with your friends when you're away from your computer. It also uses your location to identify places around you. You can select one of these places and attach it as location tag to your posts, or read what others have posted about the place.

There are several ways to use Google Buzz on your mobile phone:
* Buzz.google.com: This web app provides access to Buzz from your iPhone or Android phone's browser, allowing you to view and create buzz messages. It has two different views: 'Following' view shows buzz from the people you follow, just like Google Buzz in your Gmail; 'Nearby' view shows public buzz that has been tagged with a location near you, and might be from people you don't follow. From Nearby view, you can also select a specific place from the list of nearby places and view posts attached to that place.

* Buzz on Google Maps for mobile: The new Buzz layer allows you to see buzz near you or anywhere on the map. You can post public buzz directly from the layer, and even attach a photo from your phone. Also, try visiting a mobile Place Page to read recent comments or to post buzz about that place. You can access Place Pages from the web app as well, by tapping on the place name in any location-tagged post.

* Buzz Shortcut from Google.com: You will see the buzz icon in the top right corner of the google.com homepage. Just tap on the icon to trigger the posting box.

* Voice Shortcut: The voice shortcut, which is available in the quick search widget on Android and in Google Mobile App on iPhone, allows you to post buzz without typing anything. Just say 'post buzz,' followed by whatever you'd like to post.



When adding location to buzz posts, we focused on places, not just a lat/long location or an address. We wanted to make location information more useful both to your followers and to help others discover information about nearby places. If you don't want to include your location when you post buzz, it's easy to exclude your location and post without it. You also control whether your buzz posts will be public or private - by default or for individual posts. While anyone can access your public posts, private posts are viewable only by the people you choose to share them with.

With Buzz for mobile, we hope you can start interesting conversations about places and be more spontaneous when you are out and about. How many times have you missed a fun event, even though it was nearby? Or a better choice of dessert, just because you didn't know about it? How often have you wondered "Where are you?" when reading a text message from a friend? Now, you can use Buzz to learn that there is going to be a movie night at your favorite park, share with the world that there is an awesome ice cream place right around the corner, or tell your friends about that delicious homemade lasagna.

To start using Buzz for mobile, go to buzz.google.com from your phone's browser. It is currently available for Android and iPhone, but we're working to bring it to other platforms. The Buzz layer on Google Maps for mobile is available on Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and iPhone (as web maps). Learn more in our Help Center.

Update @4:40PM : For Android users, buzz.google.com and shortcuts are currently available only for phones with Android 2.0+ and we're working to support other versions soon. Google Maps for mobile with Buzz (Maps 4.0) is available in Android Market for phones with Android 1.6+.

112 comments:

Helio Navarro said...

for the WebOS ,where is it ???

ts_mpls said...

I second that. Way to neglect WebOS once again, Google!

Umar Faruk said...

Yeah. im waiting for that...

Unknown said...

Should we be expecting a new version of Gmail mobile app as well ?

Unknown said...

Is there an minimum android requirement? I'm on a HTC Hero running 1.5 (the best available to me right now on the best android phone currently available on Sprint) and I'm not able to access it.

smithtj1 said...

I am on a mytouch 3g running Android 1.5 and don't see it... If it's supported for Android shouldn't it be backward compatible?

R.Bunk said...

BOO! No BlackBerry support. Eff iPhone.

dSims said...

Android 2.0 required for a web app? Seriously?

I think you needed to let this one bake a little longer Google.

Michel said...

Android 2.0 required!!!! Google you failed with that one.

Lizzurd said...

Definately could have mentioned in the blog post that a majority of Android phones cannot utilize buzz. You're not usually so sneaky, Google. I'm disappointed.

rnorvell said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Robin said...

Hey folks - Sorry about the messaging. We'll update the blog post and help center with the info about the Android 2.0 requirement. Other Android users hang tight - we're working on getting you guys Buzz for mobile ASAP!

Robin

ashi said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Unknown said...

That's great but when will it be available for Blackberry?

ashi said...

Waiting patiently for this to work on my Palm Pre. Some love for WebOS, please.

Unknown said...

Damn Straight R. bunk about iPhones!

mackstann said...

Android users: Go to the Android Market and install the new version of Google Maps. Then you'll see the Buzz layer in the layers menu.

Christopher Allen said...

This is something of a PR screw-up. People who have chosen to go with Google over Apple with e.g. HTC Hero have been basically told that they would have been better off buying an iphone...by Google themselves! Get your act together.

Unknown said...

I´m a blackberry user (and abuser), what about us??

sskoutas said...

Where is the Google Suggestion Jar? The biggest thing that I think Google is missing is the need to allow Google Services to be shared across Google accounts. I have a standard "user@gmail.com" email box that is tied to many google services (blogger, analytics, buzz, groups, reader, voice, and wave, just to name a few) but the vast majority of my communication with those that I know happens with my Google Apps email addresses (I have 3 - one for my day job, another for my home business, and another for my family domain). If those Google Apps accounts are were all of my personal communications are, shouldn't I be able to use any Google Service with any of my Google Logins? Most of my personal contacts have never even seen my @gmail.com address.

I wish there were a way to let our Google accounts share information, data, services, etc. across logins.

tintmylf said...

It's rather stupid that a web app doesn't work on the vast majority of phones running your own OS. And yet, at the exact same time, the map application will work on those older apps. This is just another good way to anger your user base for no reason.

Lizzurd said...

The buzz layer on Google Maps doesn't work on our older Android OS either. We aren't able to download the version of Maps we need.

tintmylf said...

Hmmmm...the buzz layer works on my 1.6 OS...is the new maps not compatible with 1.5?

gblues said...

How about SMS integration a la twitter, for those of us without smartphones?

Dich said...

This was waaay too stupid of Google telling all of us Android users that half-year old phones can't use their NEW product, while 5 years old iPhone can. Folks, let's get rid of our Android phones. Seriously. If Google doesn't value it, why should we?
And the Map 4.0 IS showing up in Market (btw, the Market is the epic fail of Android, THAT sluggish and unstable app I've never seen), but you can't install it on Android 1.6 even... HEAVILY disappointed...

Artem Russakovskii said...

Waiting for HTC to update Hero to 2.1 already. March, is it? /sigh

Unknown said...

No Android 1.x? FAIL.

Unknown said...

Definitely a little too much hate for the launch of a new project. As always Google is rolling things out slowly and working out the kinks (how many months ago was it that Google finally took the "beta" label off Gmail?)
Since it looks like this is going to be a big part of Google's social and messaging offerings, I'm sure they'll work on getting it out to everyone.

That said, it would be nice to see the Pre included in the mobile phone feature chart... at least to say it's "coming soon," or acknowledging it exists.

Unknown said...

1.x is still over 75% of android devices:

http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

Android Platform Percent of Devices
Android 1.1 0.3%
Android 1.5 31.0%
Android 1.6 47.6%
Android 2.0 0.7%
Android 2.0.1 20.4%

Data collected during two weeks ending on 1/4/2010

tintmylf said...

Map 4.0 can be installed in Android 1.6. On my MyTouch, I found it in the market, installed without any problem, and am looking at the buzz layer now. Very weird to essentially see a random Twitter-like feed which is location generated.

Not sure how I would add my own Buzz, though, and, of course, the buzz.google.com site does NOT work.

@punyweakling said...

70% of Android users can't use the web app!!! I know it's only day 1 so we need to be patient... but sheesh... :-S

Unknown said...

All of my Friends are still using Android 1.5, so witch means buzz in Google Maps are useless to me even I am using Android 1.6.

Google Stopped making new Features on their old Platform, and makes me feel Scared. Google, do I have to buy a Nexus one inorder to get the latest update?

Make Google Maps updateable on Android 1.5 Devices Google.

Nerd Progre said...

I´m really starting to HATE Google Engineers in their Ivory Tower thinking they know best than the rest of users.

Why re-invent the wheel? Why not USE MOBILE JAVA (Java ME) which would allow you to reach the vast majority of phones with a single program?.

Why insist on porting code over and over to every platform while always leaving some unsatisfied?.

It was never like this. In fact, I have GMail for Mobile 1.5 for Java, running on my Java-enabled Palm Centro smartphone...

Ajax religion and stupidity are the only reasons I can come up with for you not deploying Buzz as a Java ME app...

Oh, speaking of Ivory Tower... Punit Singh Soni, at what email address can you be reached? No public contact info? I thought so...

FC

Maccerz said...

WEB OS!! C'mon, Google! I know Palm is a competitor for your own mobile OS but there are still some of us that use google products AND Web OS. Cut us some slack.

Ethan said...

@Fernando Cassia

Java is shit. iPhone doesn't support it.

Unknown said...

Blakberry app please

dmf273 said...

I can't find the privacy controls on my Droid! How do I

1) Stop Google Maps buzz from telling everyone where I am?

2) Change my name so that when I post, it shows a nickname instead of my REAL name?

3) Post an avatar pic?

PLEASE HELP! I can't find these settings anywhere!

I

Chingon said...

It seems that NO MORE SUPPORT for previous android ....

google map 3.4, google goggles, voice search, buzz .... all for android 2.0+

Hey GOOGLE, you know there are many people still using android 1.5+ ??

Gary said...

It makes me sick that those of us that supported Android from the beginning by buying a G1 can't use Buzz, but iPhone users can. Wouldn't expect Google to do this. Extremely disappointed.

asbah said...

No web app too for symbian. How about for opera mini?

Nerd Progre said...

@Adam: Java is not "shit", it´s the lowest common denominator for an awful LOT OF PHONES.

With a Java version, Google would cover ~70% of the medium-priced phones market, which are Java-enabled.

http://www.java.com/en/java_in_action/google_maps.jsp


http://www.java.com/en/java_in_action/sony_ericsson.jsp

Java ME SDK for Mac OS
http://java.sun.com/javame/downloads/sdk30_mac.jsp


Back to topic: if Google had released Buzz in a Java ME version they'd have almost all of the medium-priced phones covered, and THEN they could release an Ajax or Native version for high-end smartphones like your beloved holy contraption from the Church of Cupertino.

Get a grip, please. You´ve just proved that most Apple users are zealots. So any technlogy is "shit" just because His Holyness Steve Jobs has chosen not to support it?

Why do you think Google has released Google Maps for Mobile, and GMail Mobile in Java versions? Because it´s "shit"? No, it´s because it allows them to cover a lot of different smartphones without porting the same application over and over to every mobile OS...

FC

Vishal Shah said...

I clicked on the TRY BUZZ IN GMAIL ... but nothing is happening .. there is no buzz label and also tried on my HTC Hero ... but nothing happens
.. plzz leme know wat i can do ..

Jedediah Smith said...

Google doesn't support old versions of Android so that carriers are forced to upgrade. That makes life much easier for app developers and, in the long run, keeps your phone on the edge of innovation.

The alternative is lazy carriers who fragment the platform, which results in fewer and more broken apps.

Be glad that Google has the balls to push everyone else forward.

Dich said...

That's very smart, Jedediah, to think that Apple has ported the buzz for iPhone. Why would the carrier have to think of a particular phone model and apps for that phone ?

New Digits said...

thats a great option for us to keep in touch with every conversation our friends had.
Thanks Google

Unknown said...

I'm a little disappointed that I can't use this on my Hero, but then again HTC says they'll finally distribute the 2.1 upgrade next month so I suppose I'll live.

AshleyFe@gmail.com said...

Way to go google! I'm impressed! Stop working on Android, there are much more people out there with a BLACKBERRY!!! BUZZ for BLACKBERRY!!!

BRANKKO said...

Ićve just tried Buzz from Google Maps Mobile from my NOKIA 5800 and it works just great.
There is only one thing I would like: connecting via WiFi instead of 3G/GPRS... Is that possible?

DerBlitzkrieger said...

Can you give us an ETA on when Buzz mobile will be ready for S60?

MattWPBS said...

I can see this actually being really useful. Just installed the new Maps on my G1 (1.6 on T-Mobile UK), and I can see Buzz from all around me.

TO POST FROM GOOGLE MAPS: click on the buzz icon after you've enable the layer. You'll get an input form, and an option to change your location.

Now, what I really want to see is a way to browse Buzz in Google Maps on the web. Is this possible yet?

Oliver Slay i Texidor said...

How do i tell which account Buzz is posting from? I've one gmail account .. and one Google Apps account... ? Nowhere in Mobile Maps can i see how it is connected?

Anyone know? however the Buzz i made in Maps on Android (HTC Tattoo) has appeared as a Public - no photo - Buzz ...

Robert Petkus said...

No real innovation here and another tired attempt at catch-up. Geotagging pics, videos are old news for the Twitter set. Besides, Twitter is far more collaborative.
And let's not forget that Google has alienated their Android 1.5 base yet again.

Unknown said...

+1 on wanting WebOS support

Unknown said...

No blackberry support /sadpanda

Please google! Hear our cries! Save us from twitter!

Unknown said...

I would like WebOS support as well.....

A Delicate Balance said...

I second (third... n-th?) the comments about "what, no support for Blackberry". Really? What were you thinking? I sure hope this is an oversight and Google are working on a BB version.

WesleyTech said...

Will Google Buzz be rolled out to "Google Apps for your domain" users?

I don't use a standard gmail account and would love to see it on my Google apps for your domain account!

Tony said...

+1 for webOS support! Please! :o)

Barry Scott said...

If you are stuck on 1.5/1.6 then you can use Google Latitude to post a location buzz.

In Google Maps, enable Latitude, click the Update tab, type your shout out and then either accept the current location or change it to a nearby one, it works.

Angel Mass said...

I know im crazy but, what are the chances for it to work on a PSP?

timbro said...

1.5 please and thank you

Unknown said...

Palm Pre???

wickenden said...

I'd sure like to be able to see this from the gmail client in android. I never go to gmail in the browser.

I'm also on 1.6. Wish t-mobile woudld get their act together and ship us 2.1.

Don

ricardo garza marcos said...

PLEASE DON`T LET US BLACKBERRY USERS DIE ALONE!

Succibear said...

a. If you aren't running a phone with android 2.0+ you are behind the curve folks. Sorry...

b. Why is facebook not an integrated? Yet on my Droid, Facebook is integrated nicely with my contacts, etc. If people can post twits from facebook and/or vice versa, what's the hold up?

c. I'm not seeing the advantages in the long run. I thought the sandbox ideas for multi- platform communication was being in bed with Google Wave. Why is Buzz coming out and wave is still in preview? Or is this a gmail add-on for those not going wave?

d. Speaking of previews... Where is my invite for Google Voice? (Who's with me?!)

Unknown said...

Add support for BlackBerry please

Unknown said...

Why doesn't the Gmail App, the built in one on my phone, have a buzz layer or label or something. I either have to go to my gmail through the browser or buzz in maps. Maybe a Buzz App? But would prefer it all live in Gmail just like it is designed.

Am I missing something?

George said...

Google, you owe us early adopters some guidance. Is Google Buzz going to be available at some point for the G1 ? If no, would you please let us know this now?

Thanks, GWilz

Sv3n3xodu$ said...

Jumm Nice and everything but I can't use it on my cellphone!!!! When I choose Colombia, the area code to introduce my phone number doesn't load! is not available here yet or what?

DAN said...

Ugh, Google is starting to forget about us BlackBerry users!

Unknown said...

Palm WebOS support is needed! I realize the reasoning is because WebOS doesn't have HTML5 location support, but I think that's a stupid reason to make the entire website unavailable on the platform. I don't particularly care for location-based services anyway...

JD said...

BlackBerry full integration please.

RobinMaiden said...

My vote is for Android on G1...

Eddie Soto said...

G-Buzz interface looks smart and useful. But no mobile app for Blackberry? C'Mon. --> 4 BB!

MudSlice said...

Will iPhone users ever get the post photo/etc feature that the Android offers? :(

Unknown said...

Gmail default app on Android 2/Moto Droid stopped autosyncing after update to Maps 4.0. Wtf? Please tell us wutz goin on asap!

Syed Minhas Aftab said...

not working in Internet Explorer, and not correctly working even in Firefox..

Fadi said...

We need Blackberry integration ... Please.

Kostas Oreopoulos said...

Not working in ALL android devices (and not clearly stating that in the post) is unacceptable.

You support iphone and not android phones? If you were not ready, it was better to postopone the lunch of the service.

This way makes a large amount of people dissappointed.

Nate said...

The voice buzz feature does not work on the iphone: instead of posting buzz, its searches for "post buzz [whatever you wanted to post]". Anyone else having the same issues?

Dich said...

Folks, I have the TOP discovery: Google Buzz doesn't work in Google Mail under Google Chrome :) epic fail!

Nate said...

Umm...yes it does.

Dich said...

Not on linux then...

Dich said...

updated chrome to latest (unstable) version, buzz works there now.

Unknown said...

What about the normal browser ? Even for fixed PC's the Nearby function would be fun. Just extract location from Profile (maybe add more lines, so a user can quickly choose his location when at work or at home), and to distinguish fixed and mobile/gps location, just add a filter to quickly enable/disable it ?

Nate said...

Ah...I discovered the solution to the iphone problem: you have to hit the "view in safari" button after it searches...then it will take you to the buzz web app.

grendel said...

What kind of oversight is it to omit Blackberry support for Buzz?
The market saturation is not just iPhone & Android.
I sincerely hope that Google is not intentionally neglecting Blackberry.

Settipalli Rajesh said...

who can I add photos in Buzz using iphone ??

Unknown said...

Another vote for WebOS..

Unknown said...

Great to see you working on android 1.6!!! Thanks!

Jason Vermette said...

It looks like you can fetch twitter "tweets" and add them to your buzz, but you can't push your buzz posts to twitter. I would love to be able to go either way.

It would also be nice to have a number we can text to that will update our buzz. Not all of us have internet on our phones.

KevMac said...

I noticed the Google Buzz icon on my iPhone's home screen change from the default Google Buzz icon to my Google profile icon and then back. What actually triggers the change?

Robin said...

Wow - thanks for all of the great comments! We're definitely working on rolling this out to other devices and OS versions in the near future (sorry, we don't give out actual release dates or plans in advance).

We're also working on support for Google Apps for your Domain users, so look for that in the future as well.

Many of your questions about location, privacy, etc. are addressed in our Help Center, so take a peek there:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=27300

You can also post feedback in our user forum:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/label?lid=447d6f57b01006d1

or leave ideas in our "suggestion jar", which we call Product Ideas:
http://productideas.appspot.com/#16/e=cf

Cheers, Robin

Unknown said...

No support for Android 1.6? Shameful, Google, shameful. Abandoning the G1 after less than a year? How embarrassing.

Unknown said...

You make a new app and dont let most of your users use it? You guys make sure you suck somewhere or the other, don't you?

Are you even sure about what you guys are doing?

alexfg said...

Why android 2.0+ only?
It's stupid.

steve said...

great google make a point of supporting the iphone but not their own andoid 1.5 users. brilliant.

Unknown said...

I know it's saying that Buzz for Blackberry is coming soon, but come on! Google, you can do better than this.

davemcgrail said...

Please open this up for the palm pre. Shouldn't be this hard.

Unknown said...

This one is very nice and cool I am very excited to see this things It is very nice and cool.I am very glad about this things.

Zaran H Dhulla said...

Blackberry App please.

It would be more easy to use it from

Shane C. Mason said...

Blackberry please! I know google has a special affinity for android - but RIM has a much larger market share. Blackberry please!

megan said...

No support for early adopters with G1... but support for iPhone. What's going on here?

Annie said...

Hey its really great, You know now you can See your location on a map, even if you don't have GPS.
http://www.infostream.biz/GPS-JAMMER.html

Stephen Young said...

What happened to accessing my maps on android. Worked beautifully on a recent trip. Now unable to open. I'm not interested in Buzz. I don't even use Facebook. Just want to mark interesting spots on a map prior to a trip. Suggestions?

Alfonso Castillo said...

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU LAUNCH A PRODUCT WITHOUT THE FULL SUPPORT FOR YOUR OWN OS DEVICES!!

I'm an angry Android 1.5 version user

Ordo Ab Chao said...

PLEASE CREATE GOOGLE BUZZ IN JAVA ME.
IT WOULD REALLY HELP ALL US WHO HAVE JAVA PHONES AND NOT THE IPHONES AND ANDROID

BE A GOOGLE, DONT BE AN APPLE

THIS DOESNT SUIT YOU

Unknown said...

Android 2.1 lets you log into multiple accounts simultaneously. Is it possible to choose which account Buzz will post its updates under? My primary phone's Google ID is not the ID that I'd like my Buzz updates to show up under.

watokal said...

Wont be using Buzz as I have a Blackberry.. Pretty useless if it cant be mobile.

Mike G said...

Please consider how many Google users you have on webOS. Don't be evil.

Unknown said...

A vote for googly google to release buzz for BB... Why all the politics? And green stuff in between?

Zaran H Dhulla said...

DON'T BE EVIL.

BlackBerry App, Please.