Spend any time on the web's social networks and you are bound to run across a poll. While some polls probably have some legitimate value in being asked, a frequent strategy for companies is to use polls to drive traffic to their content. Of course, Polar would like for you to think their service is all about “the simple idea that everyone has an opinion worth hearing.” Wherever their value lies, Google wants a piece of it as the company has been acquired by the search giant.
On the surface, the concept seems to be to unleash Polar and their polling prowess loose on Google+ to somehow improve the platform. However, some are suggesting Google was really interested in the brainpower behind Polar. Co-founder Luke Wroblewski has been a big proponent of designing services for mobile platforms first, a nod to the growth of smartphones and tablets versus more traditional platforms.
Google appears to be close to releasing Android L for public consumption and has already been transitioning some apps to their new Material Design guideline. The timing of the Polar acquisition suggests it may be geared to something further down the road. Keep this in mind when Android M rumors start to surface.
If the Polar team could improve one thing about the Google+ mobile experience, what would you like to see?
Hi Jeff,
Do you have a specific interest for the opinion space??
If that is correct, I would love to tell you more about Voice Polls and share with you some info about what’s coming up.
Polar was an awesome player but I personally don’t think that anyone already cracked the case in the opinion space…. so it’s probably worth keeping an eye on what’s happening in the space :).
best
Having spent many years in the specialty sports industry, I can say that Polar has been one the biggest names in personal fitness electronics and probably has a large patent portfolio -particularly in cardio monitoring. This seems like something Google would want.