Today Google introduced a new social networking service called Buzz. Buzz works pretty well on the iPhone, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms. If you're a webOS user, however, you're mostly out of luck.

Eric Ogren, Contributor

February 9, 2010

2 Min Read

Today Google introduced a new social networking service called Buzz. Buzz works pretty well on the iPhone, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms. If you're a webOS user, however, you're mostly out of luck.Even though we all probably didn't need another vehicle through which to share links, photos, video, and other random thoughts, Google gave us one in Buzz. Buzz, which is integrated within Gmail on the desktop, is also accessible from some of the foremost smartphone platforms out there. As always, however, Google is playing favorites.

The iPhone and Android -- both of which have Webkit browsers and can run rich versions on Google Maps -- get great Buzz functionality. The Web app works perfectly in the browser, even if the user interface is a bit clunky. It also works in layers inside Google Maps. It lets you geo-tag thoughts, links, photos or whatever it is you want to be able to share and pinpoints them on the map. Sort of like Latitude on steroids.

As for Windows Mobile and Symbian S60, both platforms can access Buzz through the new version of Google Maps. Simply download the new Maps software (m.google.com/maps) and enabled Buzz in Maps' layers. You'll then be able to post, though it feels a lot more like Foursquare when used in the Maps application rather than in the browser as on the iPhone and Android. Google notes that the Web app version of Buzz is coming to Symbian and WinMo soon.

Are you a BlackBerry user? You're going to have to wait. Google only says that BlackBerry OS support is "coming soon."

Palm webOS users are worse off, however. Palm's webOS isn't even on the Google's Buzz support roadmap. There's no mention of it at all. According to one user on Twitter, it works in only very rudimentary fashion within the webOS browser. It's not supported in Maps, however, and it appears that the web client is limited. In fact, my friend had to trick it into thinking that his webOS device was an iPhone. Even then, he could only post and new view other status updates. Check out the graph on the bottom of this page to see what I mean.

Google why no love for webOS?

About the Author(s)

Never Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.

You May Also Like


More Insights