The abrupt departure of Google+ creator Vic Gundotra from the beleaguered social network led to immediate speculation that its days as a competitor to Facebook and Twitter are numbered. Indeed, media reports have asserted that Google+ is being chopped up for parts or, at the very least, undergoing a strategic review. Google, for its part, denies any plans to change its strategy with Google+. But now comes evidence that the company is indeed exploring a future where Google+ branding gradually fades into the background. Some developers implementing Google+ logins on their websites are now seeing an option to add a “sign in with Google” button, according to people who The Verge has spoken with. Screenshots show a simple blue button with a white Google “g” logo and the words “sign in” or “sign in with Google.”
