Google Photos Service to Be Separated From Google+: Report

Google has been releasing standalone apps for various services such as offline document editing apps (Docs, Sheets, and Slides) and stock email app. Now, if a new report is to be believed, Google's popular photo service called Google Photos might also receive the same treatment soon.

Bloomberg citing people with knowledge of the company's plans notes that the search engine giant is planning to give its Photos service a more independent role, and will allow non-Google+ users to access the photo service. The report speculates that the move might bolster the popularity of its Google Photos service when independent of the Google+. The report quoting one of the sources claimed that Google might even rebrand its Photos service.

Google said in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg, "Over here in our darkroom, we're always developing new ways for people to snap, share and say cheese."

Google has been aggressively pushing its own social network, Google+ against the likes of Facebook, Flickr, and Instagram. However, the company has not received a very positive response from Google+ users.

For those unaware, Vic Gundotra, the executive credited for bringing Google+ service to life, recently announced his exit from the company.

In May, the Mountain View giant with the aim of bolstering the popularity of its own social network announced Google+ Stories and Movies, interactive photo- and video-organizing tools for the photos and videos section of Google+.

Last month, Google removed the need for users to utilise their real name while using the Google+ social network, and also apologised for its unclear policy in the past.