OnLive and Google Finance: A Lost Partnership

OnLive, a pioneering cloud gaming service, briefly dipped its toes into the world of finance through an intriguing, albeit short-lived, partnership with Google Finance. While not a deeply integrated feature, OnLive users could access Google Finance data directly through the OnLive Desktop application.

The OnLive Desktop, separate from the core gaming service, was a virtualized Windows desktop environment accessible via the cloud. It allowed users to run basic productivity applications like Microsoft Office and, importantly, browse the internet. This browser access facilitated the integration with Google Finance.

Within the OnLive Desktop, users could open a web browser (typically Internet Explorer) and navigate to Google Finance. From there, they could access real-time stock quotes, financial news, company profiles, and interactive charts. The advantage was accessibility. Users could check their investments on a relatively low-powered device, like a tablet or even a television connected to the OnLive Microconsole, without needing a fully equipped computer.

However, this integration wasn't a bespoke app or a deeply embedded feature. It was simply leveraging the existing functionality of the OnLive Desktop to access a popular web-based financial tool. It provided a convenience factor but didn't fundamentally change the Google Finance experience. The user experience was identical to accessing Google Finance on any other desktop browser.

The partnership didn't involve any unique functionalities or data sharing between OnLive and Google Finance. OnLive didn't use financial data to enhance the gaming experience, nor did Google Finance leverage OnLive's user base for any specific financial services. It was merely a case of providing access to a valuable resource within the cloud desktop environment.

The demise of OnLive significantly impacted this relationship. When OnLive faced financial difficulties and was ultimately acquired and shut down, the OnLive Desktop service, including access to Google Finance, disappeared. The brief chapter of accessing financial data through a cloud gaming platform came to an end.

While the OnLive-Google Finance interaction was limited, it highlighted the potential for cloud platforms to offer diverse services beyond their core functionality. It was a small example of how cloud computing could bring financial tools to a wider audience, regardless of their hardware capabilities. However, ultimately, the lack of a strong business model for OnLive itself prevented this integration from evolving into something more substantial.