Google+ application for brands ends July 15

With many companies and brands signing up for its recently launched social networking site, Google said it is fast-tracking tests on how businesses can fit into Google+. After opening the site for applications from businesses and other entities, Google+ Project "ads guy" Christian Oestlien said companies have until 6 p.m. PST on July 15 (10 a.m. Saturday in Manila) to sign up for the tests. "To the thousands upon thousands of businesses that applied to be a part: THANK YOU! We won't be able to accommodate everyone, but your interest has got us very focused on accelerating our development plans," Oestlien said in a Google+ post. The Google executive said they plan to spend the next week selecting a "diverse set" of business partners for the test period, whom they will communicate with and publicize soon after. In the meantime, however, he said Google will continue to close profiles run by businesses. On July 7, Oestlien already pointed out Google+ at present is not currently optimized for businesses' needs. "In fact, it was kind of an awkward moment for us when we asked Ford for his (or was it her?) gender!" he said. Besides, he said users communicate with each other in a manner different from the way they do with brands. "We have a great team of engineers actively building an amazing Google+ experience for businesses, and we will have something to show the world later this year," he said. He hinted that the business experience Google is working on "should far exceed the consumer profile in terms of its usefulness to businesses." "(In the meantime), our policy team will actively work with profile owners to shut down non-user profiles," he added. —JMT/RSJ, GMA News