• Google buys delivery startup; may be planning actual Google Mail to challenge 'outdated' postal serv
    37 replies, posted
[url]http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/30/why-did-google-buy-bufferbox-because-the-entire-mail-and-package-delivery-system-is-broken/[/url] [quote=TechCrunch]Today, Google bought an Ontario-based company called BufferBox. In a way, it kind of came out of left field. Since it’s a Google Ventures company, one can guess that those on Google’s campus were very familiar with the service, which provides an easy alternative to waiting around for packages at your house. Not only is package delivery a bummer, because things get lost, hitting up your mailbox when you get home isn’t that much fun either. The worst is when you don’t even have a mailbox and you come home to twenty pieces of junkmail slipped under your door. The mail delivery system is broken and old. It’s ripe for…disruption. How broken? The US Post Office lost $15.9B in 2012. [B]So at first blush, one could say that Google wants to compete with the likes of shipping magicians like Amazon and UPS, but I think that it goes a bit deeper than that.[/B] This doesn’t feel like an “e-commerce” play. Google has the knack of honing in on verticals that are a pain for people in the real physical world. Don’t want to drive your car? Maybe one day it’ll drive itself thanks to Google. Back to BufferBox, the YCombinator company that currently only operates in Canada. It’s an area that is great to test things out in, away from our needy grubby hands in the United States. Google also rolled out its Fiber product in Kansas City, away from us geeks in San Francisco and New York, so that it could perfect its product before unleashing it on the universe. [img]http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/convo-1-1.jpg?w=640&h=306[/img] This is how BufferBox describes itself on its website: [quote=BufferBox][B]Today’s parcel delivery system is outdated – missing package deliveries is crazy! You’re not home during the day, so stop shipping parcels there! Ship them to your closest BufferBox instead![/B] We’re a network of parcel pick-up stations that are conveniently located, allowing you to grab parcels securely and on your schedule![/quote] [B]Google challenging the Post Office? Altruistic? Kind of. Business savvy? You betcha. Sounds like it’s right up Google’s alley. What does a company have to have to take over the mail routing system? Brilliant mapping technology.[/B] One day, I could see a world where we don’t have mailmen and women coming to our houses every single day to deliver junkmail. These things can be dropped off in a box in a place that’s more convenient for you, say by your office. That way, you can pick it up when you want to, and come home to a nice relaxing home, and clean doorstep. Let’s not forget to mention the anxiety of worrying about a package being stolen by a neighbor. It happens. So in a nutshell, one must only [I]wonder[/I] why Google picked up BufferBox, because Google never really goes into great detail on why it acquires companies. It doesn’t really have to, for competitive reasons. Just know that everything at Google tends to happen as part of a master plan, and this particular acquisition could lead to a massive master plan. Remember when Google bought GrandCentral? It turned into Google Voice. The service that could one day compete with the likes of AT&T and Verizon. That acquisition was led by Google’s Wesley Chan, now a partner at Google Ventures. He thinks big, so does Google. Just when you thought the GrandCentral acquisition was going nowhere, Google Voice was launched. Searching all of the world’s information, free or cheaper Internet for all, free phone numbers and voicemail, devices like laptops that are priced fairly for Education and lower-income families running powerhouse open-source software, services that make everything we do online feel more intimate and social, both at work and home, reinventing television…there is an obvious pattern. Google wants to help reshape, and evolve, the world. You’ve got Google Mail.[/quote] [url]http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/google-buys-bufferbox-gearing-up-for-same-day-deliveries-50009886/[/url] [quote=CNET][B]Google could be about to start offering a same-day delivery service to challenge Amazon.[/B] It's just bought a Canadian start-up called BufferBox, which has lockers in central locations that hold your parcel until you're ready to pick it up, Engadget reports. [B]So if you're at work all day, just swing by the locker on the way home, or whenever is convenient for you. No waiting in for the postie required.[/B] It's similar to Amazon Locker, a service the e-retailer started offering late last year. And it hints Google is looking to become more of an online shopping powerhouse. Google is keeping mum on what it intends to do with BufferBox, but one of the big G's engineering directors told the Financial Post that the start-up's branding and services would continue for the foreseeable. But I'd be surprised if it just sticks with the service as is. Google has been launching more and more products of late, and they only seem to be getting better. The Nexus 4 -- made with LG -- is great value for money, winning our coveted Editors' Choice Award. It's just a shame Google has struggled with stock. The device sold out in just half an hour, with plenty of Android fans keen to snap up a bargain. It recently went back on sale in the Play Store in the US, but us Brits are currently left wanting. Try to buy one, and you'll see the message: "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon." Amazon too has been launching more products, expanding its Kindle line recently, but has a lot more experience as a retailer, so has a considerable head start on Google.[/quote]
I'm going to guess that this will be run by self driving cars.
Google may or may not be taking over my life and I'm okay with that
i'm ok with this
Its funny how in all the dystopian movies and novels the corporations that take over the world are called Omnidyne or Megaplex or something. But in reality it's called Google lol.
I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.
[QUOTE=Raidyr;38665051]Its funny how in all the dystopian movies and novels the corporations that take over the world are called Omnidyne or Megaplex or something. But in reality it's called Google lol.[/QUOTE] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/w0yf.png[/img]
[QUOTE=SpartanXC9;38665004]I'm going to guess that this will be run by self driving cars.[/QUOTE] That would be the most amazing thing ever. I think driverless cars need atleast one person in them to be road legal at the moment though.
[QUOTE=SpartanXC9;38665004]I'm going to guess that this will be run by self driving cars.[/QUOTE] Now I can no longer complain about the delivery workers throwing my packages around. Instead I can complain about how it got jammed by a robot.
This is called a package station and Germany had those for years, not exactly a new concept.
NEWS ALERT: Supreme court rules law against reading others' mail unconstitutional in Google vs. United States case
[QUOTE=Van-man;38665121]Now I can no longer complain about the delivery workers throwing my packages around. Instead I can complain about how it got jammed by a robot.[/QUOTE] You can also complain about their cars gaining sentience and crashing into your house to free their robotic brethren.
[QUOTE=kaze4159;38665097][img]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071016222560/pixar/images/e/e2/BnL.svg[/img][/QUOTE] [IMG]http://screenmusings.org/WALL-E/images/WALL-E-363.jpg[/IMG]
oh boy dragon dildoes in just horus anime pillows in days thanks google my dreams are coming true :)
I must be missing something here But how is this supposed to be replacing the postal service in any way? To me it just seems like instead of telling it to deliver to your actual house where you live... you instead deliver it to a box that isn't where you live, which means you have to go pick it up yourself (AKA, like just going to the post office and getting it yourself). Why is this nessicary, and how exactly does it compete with the post office? Especially since you know... you kind of have to ship it via post anyways to the box.
I for one welcome our new Google overlords.
[QUOTE=KorJax;38665791]I must be missing something here But how is this supposed to be replacing the postal service in any way? To me it just seems like instead of telling it to deliver to your actual house where you live... you instead deliver it to a box that isn't where you live, which means you have to go pick it up yourself (AKA, like just going to the post office and getting it yourself). Why is this nessicary, and how exactly does it compete with the post office? Especially since you know... you kind of have to ship it via post anyways to the box.[/QUOTE] Packages will likely be delivered much faster when it doesn't need to be sent to each individual house but instead in bulk to stations. Less trips for the same amount of packages to be made by the postal service guys.
Mmmmm Google
Emperor Google will lead us to greatness
Google seems like it's becoming a massive corporation that has an affect on almost every aspect of our daily lives, like in some bad 80's scifi movie. At least they seem to be wanting to bring us into the future.
Cool, the company Buffer Box that Google just bought is based in Toronto. I might actually get to use it woo!
[b] [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UPH9iKpM-fk#t=6s] GOOGLE WILL GROW LARGER. [/url] [/b]
This whole Buffer Box thing sounds remarkably like a PO Box. Y'know those things we've had around for decades.
[URL="http://web.archive.org/web/19990125084553/http://alpha.google.com/"]They've come a long way.[/URL]
Am I the only one whose actually kinda...indifferent about this?
[QUOTE=Swilly;38669042]Am I the only one whose actually kinda...indifferent about this?[/QUOTE] Yep, we're all sheep for google and have no shame.
It'll be interesting to see what happens.
Google is going to be the first megacorporation [editline]1st December 2012[/editline] Well not the first but the first modern one
Google, to me, is dependent on advertising to keep itself on its feet; if advertising hit a road bump then Google would be forced to change internally. [editline]1st December 2012[/editline] This could be an alternate source of future income...
I'm okay with this, so far Google has given me no reason to be afraid of them becoming more powerful.
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