engine - 9:58 am on Sep 15, 2010 (gmt 0)

Google's Plans For Social Networking [guardian.co.uk]

Google will begin the introduction of "layers" of social-networking features later this year, the company's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, has said. Speaking at the Zeitgeist conference yesterday evening, Schmidt suggested that plans for a social network to rival the likes of Facebook – and now Apple's Ping – are further away than previously thought. Schmidt told reporters: "We're trying to take Google's core products and add a social component." "If you think about it, it's obvious," he said. "With your permission, knowing more about who your friends are, we can provide more tailored recommendations. Search quality can get better."