The goal of Google Wave

What is really the goal of Google Wave?

Is it to create a replacement for email?

Google have invited developers very early into the product process, long before most companies would open up access. I would say it is a form of Agile development. You get quick feedback on functionality, which makes it easier to find out what is really wanted.

I think Google doesn't really care what Google Wave is. They want to do something that people wants to use, and it doesn't really matter what it is as long as it gets popular. Because of that, the actual requirement specification is impossible to freeze early.

By involving users and developers this early, the Wave will have the possibility to evolve in a way that noone had anticipated.

Wave has some new ideas, or at least re-invented old ones. It is when you combine new ideas that real inventions are born. The type that few could have foreseen.

It will be interesting to see where this will lead. Will it be the next paradigm of Internet usage, or will be just another mail system?