Google Plus is both a social destination and a social layer over Google’s products and services. Google+ (pronounced and sometimes written as Google Plus) is a social networking and identity service that is owned and operated by Google Inc. Google has described Google+ as a “social layer” that enhances many of its online properties, and that it is not simply a social networking website, but also an authorship tool that associated web-content directly with its owner/author. It is the second-largest social networking site in the world after Facebook. 540 million monthly active users are part of the Identity service side, by interacting socially with Google+’s enhanced properties, like Gmail, +1 button, and YouTube comments. 300 million monthly active users are part of the Social Networking side by interacting with the Google+ social networking stream itself.

Google+ Mobile App was used by 30% of smartphone users between April–June 2013, making it the fourth most used app. Google+ Enhanced apps and mobile sites are used on 92% of USA smartphones. Two main strengths of Google+’s social site are photography and its “Hangout” feature. An update in October 2013 focuses on these areas. Google+ has 1.5 billion photos uploaded each week.

Features:

• Follow what friends, family, and interesting people around the world are sharing
• Join communities to explore interests and find people with similar passions
• Automatically back up photos and videos at full resolution
• Bring photos to life with animations, panoramas, and other Auto Awesome images