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What if Google took the "enable" approach, instead of the "content owner" approach:

+ Enable existing expert communities (and developing ones) to add voice and video consultation via libraries and APIs that leverage WebRTC</p>

+ Enable choice of Google ID or other IDs

+ Enable choice of Google Payments or other

+ Enable record and streaming options via YouTube

I know the above doesn't have the same short-term business model upside as Google Helpouts did, but, then again, would Helpouts still be around today if it took the enable path?



Google's profit model isn't to enable, it's to collect & warehouse massive amounts of sensitive user data.




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