Google shifts Google+ development teams to Android

Google has shifted the Hangouts development team to the Android arm, and the same is likely to happen to the Photos team, claims TechCrunch. The shifting of the teams that previously belonged to the Google+ branch would coincide with the departure of the Google+ CEO.

The shift would be part of the internal strategy change to see Google+ more as a platform and less as a standalone product, TechCrunch reports citing two sources within Google. Google would like to focus more on mobile and the shifted teams should start developing ‘widgets’ that use Google+ as a platform.

Until recently, Google+’s development team consisted of 1000 to 1200 employees, but Google would have split and shifted the teams because of the strategy change. The changes coincide with the departure of Google+ CEO Vic Gundotra. According to TechCrunch, internal criticism has been made of the decision to integrate Google+ into services such as YouTube and Gmail.

Incidentally, Google itself has always stated that Google+ should not be seen so much as a separate social network, but more as a platform where several services of the company are linked together. It is clear, however, that the platform is not enjoying the popularity that Google had hoped. Google vehemently denies TechCrunch’s statement, stating that Gundotra’s departure will have no impact on Google+’s strategy.