Google adds Desktop, Postini channel to snuff list

Autumn spring clean.

Google will discontinue 11 products to focus resources on bigger impact ones like its Google + social network, Android and its $12 billion gamble on Motorola Mobility.

The rise of cloud and apps were behind its decision to kill off desktop search product Google Desktop, which will be discontinued from September 14 because people had access to data on or offline, according to Alan Eustace, Google senior vice president.

Last week Google launched its Gmail Offline app and planned to release similar apps for Calendar and Docs over the coming weeks.  

"It will also mean we can devote more resources to high impact products—the ones that improve the lives of billions of people," Eustace said of the wider cull. 

Also on the chopping block were channel sales for the Postini line of hosted security products it acquired in 2007.

"Although our previous sales channel will be discontinued, we’ll continue to support our existing customers," said Eustace.

Postini was launched as Google Web Security for Enterprise in Australia in 2008, taking on now Symantec-owned Message Labs with message filtering and security for $3.65 and $14.63 a user annually. 

Postini's web security technologies had already been rolled into other Google products such as the Chrome browser and would live on inside them, said Eustace. 

Others on the way out included Aardvark, Fast Flip, Google Maps API for Flash, Google Pack, Image Labeler, Notebook, Sidewiki and Subscribed Links.  

“We’ll continue to take risks on interesting new technologies with a lot of potential. But by targeting our resources more effectively, we can focus on building world-changing products with a truly beautiful user experience,” said Eustace.

The latest cull follows on from Google’s June clean when it discontinued Google Health and Power Meter, and shortly after put an end to Google Toolbar in Firefox and Google Labs.