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Disposable Google products left and right

Posted Jul 3rd 2006 3:08PM by Brian White
Filed under: Products and services, Launches, Consumer experience, Internet, Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG)

Has Google abandoned one of the key missions in its corporate life, and that is, to do one thing and do it well? Most of the planet should know by now that Google does Internet search well -- very well. Billions of customers and tens of billions of searches have proven that -- and have given Google billions of dollars in ad-sharing revenue. While this mountain continues to reach historic heights, is Google shifting any semblance of focus from Internet search to other areas?

Judging by all the recent product releases by Google, one could assume that. However, again and again, CEO Eric Schmidt has said Google's top priority, always, is making sure customers can find the information they are looking for through the Internet search service Google operates. So, what are all these other products for? Is Google just throwing mud at the wall and keeping what sticks, while tossing what falls to the floor after a year or so?

Sure, it has the luxury to do that, but not forever. Google needs product and revenue diversification just like any other company that has a decent long-term business strategy. Does Google really believe that up to 80% of its launched products will fail?  With successes like Google News and Google Earth -- which still don't drive revenue directly yet -- but a laundry list of other products that are, popularity-wise, teetering on the edge of oblivion (let's hope not, Google's products are excellent in most cases), I would agree that Google does seem to have a form of ADD. What's the prescription for treatment? Continue to release a torrid pace of products so that 2 out of 10 will make it.

Tags: GOOG, Google

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