Is Google+ failing? Report hints at ‘staff cuts and transfers to Android’

Google+ could soon be facing serious cutbacks that will see an end to forced integration with other platforms, dramatically cut division resources and a shift to Google’s fast-growing Android mobile platform, according to a news report.

According to a report in Techcrunch, Google is planning to move 1000-1200 employees from its three-year-old social network to other divisions- mainly its thriving Android mabile platform.
The news follows last week’s resignation Vic Gundotra, one of the chief architects of the Google+ project.
In the report, Techcrunch writes:

What we’re hearing from multiple sources is that Google+ will no longer be considered a product, but a platform – essentially ending its competition with other social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Google has apparently been reshuffling the teams that used to form the core of Google+, a group numbering between 1,000 and 1,200 employees. … As part of these staff changes, the Google Hangouts team will be moving to the Android team, and it’s likely that the photos team will follow. Basically, talent will be shifting away from the Google+ kingdom and towards Android as a platform, we’re hearing.

Google+ initially launched in 2011, serving both as a social network to rival facebook and Twiter and an identity service for the company to track users across services like YouTube, Gmail and Google Maps. Now, Google seems to be backing away from this original Google+ strategy.
According to the report, Google Hangouts will supposedly be moved to Android, and the Google+ photos team is “likely” to follow.
“Basically, talent will be shifting away from the Google+ kingdom and towards Android as a platform,” the report said.
Google has been quick to deny the claims in the report, with a statement issued today: “Today’s news has no impact on our Google+ strategy—we have an incredibly talented team that will continue to build great user experiences across Google+, Hangouts, and Photos.”