Google’s release of a new Google Groups service today ironically causes the majority of features
offered via the Google home page to be in beta status.
Overall, 4 of the 6 major services on the home page — 66 percent — are in beta. If you don’t use Google Desktop, then it’s 3 out of 5 services in beta, or 60
percent of them.
My article for Search Engine Watch members takes a longer look at this: Breaking Out
Of Google’s Beta Limbo. It’s complete with a chart showing all the major Google services, when they launched and how long to emerge or remain in beta. For things
like Google News or Froogle Shopping, we’re talking two years or longer in beta.
Overall, that article concludes that at some point, it’s time for these services to either emerge from beta or be dropped as ready for promotion to the general
public.