Google Launches New App ‘Currents’: Is It the Next Slack?

The new enterprise social media network meant to replace Google+ enters a competitive market for corporate communications platforms.

3 min read
Jul 14, 2020

This week, Google launched its replacement to the failed social media platform Google+ — an app called Google Currents. Currents was announced earlier this year, following the shutdown of all Google+ accounts in 2019. The Google+ apps for iOS and Android have been rebranded to reflect the launch of Currents, which is available to all G-Suite users starting this week.

But what exactly is Google Currents? Google describes its newest media platform as a space to “engage employees” and “build a productive community where everyone stays on the same page.” A quick exploration of the app reveals a timeline feature with posts from other employees within your company (or those outside your company, if your administrators allow it) and a “communities” feature that might seem familiar to those who use Facebook groups.

In the midst of a global pandemic that has forced millions to learn to work remotely while under stay-at-home orders, platforms that allow companies to feel connected are very valuable. Many companies are looking for ways to unify employees during a time when almost everyone must work apart. Currents attempts to replicate the feeling of a shared workspace through the ability to disseminate company-wide information, create groups based on shared interests, and get instant feedback on shared ideas.

However, Currents is not the first app to attempt this. Enterprise apps like Slack already exist to make staying “on the same page” possible while working remotely. According to App Ape, Slack itself has seen 48.6% growth since January, adding more than 3 million users to its platform since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that many countries are easing stay-at-home orders and allowing employees to return to work, has the need for a virtual workspace already peaked?

The difference between Google Currents and Slack is significant: Slack is primarily an instant messaging platform, while Currents seems to be much more public, mimicking a social media platform such as Facebook or the now-defunct Google+. Slack is geared toward companies of all sizes, while Currents appears — to a first-time user — to be better suited to large companies with many distinct departments.

Whether Currents will actually turn out to be a serious Slack competitor is a question that only time can answer.

Currents is currently only available to G-Suite members. Administrators have the ability to implement and manage Google Currents among their employees for free. To learn more about Currents, download the app here for free on Google Play and the App Store.

Interested in more app news and trends? Sign up for our email list.

Что за программа currents в телефоне

Google Currents (Google Медиа)
Версия: 2.3.0

Последнее обновление программы в шапке: 15.02.2015

Краткое описание:
Бесплатный цифровой журнал с сотнями изданий.

Описание:
Google Currents представляет собой цифровой журнал, включающий в себя полные тексты статей более чем сотни изданий. Любое интернет издание может самостоятельно добавить свой ресурс в Google Currents с помощью специальной веб-утилиты Currents Producer. Все издания являются бесплатными.

Используя технологию поиска, Google Currents ежечасно создаёт набор изданий, отслеживая последние значимые события таких категорий, как мир, развлечения, спорт и наука.
Более новые материалы выносятся на первый план и связаны со статьями, видео и фотографиями по данной теме.

Приложение дает возможность подключать аккаунты Google+ и Google Reader, превращая ваши подписки в удобочитаемый журнальный вид.
Возможность работать в офф-лайн режиме.
Настройка синхронизации только через Wi-Fi или мобильную сеть.
Приложение адаптировано под телефоны и планшеты.

При подготовке материала использовались источники:
https://medium.com/@AppGrooves/google-launches-new-app-currents-is-it-the-next-slack-7ca8b9589872
https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=289514