Has Google+ Missed The Boat?

Finally, 3 months after it was launched to an invite-only group, Google has announced that Google+ is officially open to everyone.

During the 90 day trial, Google claims to have made 91 improvements to its Google+ platform, in particular its Hangouts.

However, since launching to the select few, Facebook has managed to update its functionality to match that of Google+. Of particular note is the upgrade Facebook made to its Friends Lists and News feed functionality, which appears uncannily like the Circles functionality found in Google+.

So, the burning question is, was Google wise to launch Google+ in beta for 3 months, giving ample time for Facebook to assess the competition and make modifications before Google+ was able to build real critical mass?

As highlighted above, since its launch the fanfare has become rather muted over the summer, and many (including myself) are questioning whether it would have been more prudent to offer Google+ to everyone upon launch in late June.