iGoogle grew 267% and Google Products shrunk 73% in 2007
Out of all the Google services, iGoogle saw the largest growth this year with a 267% increase according to comScore data. iGoogle is a personalized homepage where users can install "Gadgets" -- anything from egg timers to interesting news feeds. iGoogle was launched May 20, 2005, and so the comparison between 2006 and 2007 is the first year over year comparison available. These impressive numbers may cause some companies with competing products, like NetVibes, to shake a bit in their boots.
Other Google products that saw increased usage this year include:
- Google Web Search (+20%)
- Google Images (+35%)
- Google News (+20%)
- Google Book Search (+55%)
- Google Blog Search (+27%)
- Gmail (+54%)
- Google Maps (+52%)
- Google Earth (+11%)
- Google Groups (+20%)
Where there is success, there is also failure though. Google has a history of cutting fat -- so my predictions for 2008 will include the following "losers" being discontinued, or at least completely re-thought.
- Google Video Search (-12%)
- Google Scholar (-32%)
- Google Directory Search (-19%)
- Google Products (-73%)
Then there is Google Finance, this service hasn't had any usage swings in either direction. The product just isn't as powerful as the competition, and investors don't feel the need to change yet. Google is going to have to think hard about what investors will actually find useful enough to make them "need" Google Fianance -- without that, the service will continue to coast along at best.