Google on Wednesday began letting members of its online social network get search page reminders about the birthdays of friends.<\/p>\n
“Everyone deserves a little love on their birthday,” Google’s Irene Chung said in an online message announcing the new feature. “Starting today, you’ll see a reminder on Google.com when someone in your circles has a birthday.”<\/p>\n
Search page birthday reminders are only shared with friends indicated in a person’s preferences in Google+ controls at plus.google.com\/up\/birthday, according to Chung.<\/p>\n
Birthday reminders have long been features in online communities such as leading social network Facebook.<\/p>\n
Google is weaving the notices into search page results as part of a strategy to mesh its social network with its other online services and products.<\/p>\n
“At first you’ll only see birthday reminders if you’re searching in English on Google.com,” Chung said. “We’ll be rolling this feature out gradually over the next few days.”<\/p>\n
Google on Wednesday also began adding social networking features to the suite of “apps” designed for businesses to use online as services hosted in the Internet “cloud.”<\/p>\n
Google Apps offerings include programs for Gmail, calendars, documents, and data storage.<\/p>\n
“We’re launching an initial set of Google+ features designed specifically for businesses,” product management director Clay Bavor said in a blog post.<\/p>\n
“Like Google Apps, we think Google+ can help colleagues collaborate more easily and get things gone – and get to know each other along the way.”<\/p>\n
The new features will be available to businesses free of charge during a preview period lasting through the end of the year, according to Bavor.<\/p>\n
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