Google will stop using iGoogle homepage next year

Google has announced that it will retire a number of services, including its customizable homepage iGoogle. Users can use the service until November 1, 2013.

According to Google, the concept of the customizable homepage is outdated because it is now possible to run personalized apps on Android and in the Chrome browser. The search giant gives users 16 months to edit or export the data on their iGoogle page. After that, the service will be taken offline. iGoogle was launched in 2007 and allowed users to place various widgets on their own Google home page.

In addition to iGoogle, Google will also discontinue a number of other services. After July 31, for example, it will no longer be possible to purchase Google Mini – a turnkey server that allows companies to use Google’s search technology in their own organization. Google will also stop offering the Google Talk Chatback widget and search application for Symbian.

Google Videos will also close its doors for good. After August 20 of this year, the videos that are still stored at the service will be transferred to YouTube. Google has indicated in the past that it will stop the video service, but has postponed this a number of times. Since 2009 it was no longer possible to upload videos. Google Videos was founded in 2005, but the company soon shifted its focus to YouTube, which it acquired in 2006 for $1.65 billion.