Web Search–Google
Google Launches Web Page Creator (Beta) THEN Temporarily Shuts Down Registrations to Use It
Well, here we go again. Google announces a new service and then within hours (about nine according to InsideGoogle) of annoucning it temporarily stops people from registering to use it. The new service is called Google Page Creator and allows users (who are registered) to create web pages and then host them (free) on the GooglePages.com domain. Remember, Google also owns the Blogger weblog creation service. Both Chris Sherman and Philipp Lenssen were able to use the service before registrations were closed (for the time being) and have excellent overviews. Chris notes that the new service might have Google going after the MySpace.com user market. Good point. It also might be about getting out of the box a bit more quickly than the new Microsoft Office Live (closed beta, see below) that offers free web hosting and page creation tools.

However, only hours after the Google launch the sign-up page has a note (lower right corner) stating that new accounts are unavailable today but if you share your email with them, you’ll be notified when you can register to try the service. If you enter your Gmail address (you’ll need one) you find a page that reads:

“Oops…Thank you for your interest in Google Page Creator! Google Page Creator has experienced extremely strong demand, and, as a result, we have temporarily limited the number of new signups as we increase capacity. In the meantime, please submit your email address and we will notify you as soon as we are ready to add new users. Thank you for your patience.”

Yes, it’s a “beta” but Google has the knowledge to know that whatever they offer will be in heavy demand especially on the day it’s announced. They also have the resources (capacity) to be ready for it (especially after learning from other launches). This is NOT the first time we’ve seen this with a Google product introduction. Registrations for Google Analytics and Google Earth were stopped for a period of time) because of high demand. Why are they unprepared? I have no idea but can only guess that limiting users keeps the buzz about the service going long after the first announcements are made. In other words, I would say it might be another example of good pr (and in this case getting buzz going before more people check the MS Live Windows service). But is it? How many introductions will take place before people just get frustrated (at Google) and lose interest (in the service) as they wait for an invite? Btw, an interesting thread in the Google Page Creator discussion about a person’s Gmail address being used for page naming purposes. Many believe that this will be a new source for spammers.

Other Services
Web-based page creation (not the same as blog creation) and hosting services (not the same thing as the many weblog creation and hosting services) have been a part of the web since the early days. What’s old is new again. Other examples include:

+ Microsoft Office Live Basics (Beta)
Free basic site. Lots of tools including some traffic info. You’ll need to register to be accepted into the beta. Included is a free unique domain name (you choose). Additional tools and services are now free (during beta) then will become fee based.

+ Yahoo GeoCities
Both free and fee-based web page creation and hosting services.

+ Tripod/Lycos
Both free and fee-based web page creation and hosting services. AngelFire offers the same services.

+ AOL Hometown
Both “traditional” web pages and blogs. Free.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 23rd, 2006 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.