BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Google unveils real-time search capability; yes, this is huge]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/08/google-unveils-real-time-search-capability-yes-this-is-huge/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/08/google-unveils-real-time-search-capability-yes-this-is-huge/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/08/google-unveils-real-time-search-capability-yes-this-is-huge/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google, Inc. (GOOG), already the king of internet search from computers and mobile phones, wants to bring you real-time information via those search channels. Information, of course, is constantly being updated on the web 24 hours a day without fail.

Continue reading Google unveils real-time search capability; yes, this is huge

Google unveils real-time search capability; yes, this is huge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GooelGOOGGoogle real-timeGoogle searchGoogleReal-timeGoogleSearchTue, 08 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony shipping PCs with Google's Chrome web browser already installed]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/04/sony-shipping-pcs-with-googles-chrome-web-browser-already-insta/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/04/sony-shipping-pcs-with-googles-chrome-web-browser-already-insta/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/04/sony-shipping-pcs-with-googles-chrome-web-browser-already-insta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) and Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) have formed an unusual partnership, which should make Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) a little worried.

Instead of purchasing that shiny new Sony laptop and firing it up to surf the web with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, customers will find that the default web browser already installed on the new system will be Google's own Chrome web browser -- which is just now celebrating its first birthday.

Continue reading Sony shipping PCs with Google's Chrome web browser already installed

Sony shipping PCs with Google's Chrome web browser already installed originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredGOOGGoogle searchGoogleSearchsneSont VaioSontVaioSony laptopsSony PCsSonyLaptopsSonyPcsFri, 04 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google argues that it isn't really that big after all]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/google-argues-that-it-isnt-really-that-big-after-all/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/google-argues-that-it-isnt-really-that-big-after-all/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/30/google-argues-that-it-isnt-really-that-big-after-all/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is the largest search provider on the entire internet. It handles more advertising than any other company in the world and is extending its reach into multiple areas still to this day, including several disruptive online areas. Yet, the behemoth still thinks it's not that big in the grand scheme of things. Do you agree?

Continue reading Google argues that it isn't really that big after all

Google argues that it isn't really that big after all originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle competitionGoogle searchGoogleCompetitionGoogleSearchInc.Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft to spend $100 million marketing new search engine?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/microsoft-to-spend-100-million-marketing-new-search-engine/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/microsoft-to-spend-100-million-marketing-new-search-engine/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/microsoft-to-spend-100-million-marketing-new-search-engine/#commentsFiled under: ,

Does Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) really continue to believe that it can grab internet search market share away from giants like Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Yahoo!, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO)? The software company, which time and time again has said it intends to continue competing in the race for search market share, is about to release its latest effort -- Bing.

Continue reading Microsoft to spend $100 million marketing new search engine?

Microsoft to spend $100 million marketing new search engine? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogle searchGoogleSearchLive SearchLiveSearchMicrosoft Corp.MicrosoftCorp.MSFTTue, 26 May 2009 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Google powers 72% of all U.S. web searches in February]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/11/google-powers-72-of-all-u-s-web-searches-in-february/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/11/google-powers-72-of-all-u-s-web-searches-in-february/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/11/google-powers-72-of-all-u-s-web-searches-in-february/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) continued its torrid command of the internet search market in February, powering 72% of all those searches. As always, the next three competitors were way behind: Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) has 17% of the market, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) had 6% and Ask.com had 4%.

Continue reading Google powers 72% of all U.S. web searches in February

Google powers 72% of all U.S. web searches in February originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdsenseAsk.comGOOGgoogleGoogle AdsGoogle searchGoogleAdsGoogleSearchHitwiseinthenewsmsftyhooWed, 11 Mar 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Does Google devalue everything it touches?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/16/does-google-devalue-everything-it-touches/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/16/does-google-devalue-everything-it-touches/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/16/does-google-devalue-everything-it-touches/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), by most accounts, brings enormous value to each customer it touches. From rapid-fire internet search results to free email to online document creation and storage, the company helps hundreds of millions find and organize their digital lives every day. So, with that being said, why don't some folks seem to understand Google's value more than be afraid of it?

Continue reading Does Google devalue everything it touches?

Does Google devalue everything it touches? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle NewsGoogleNewsGoogleSearchGProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0 gle sInc.Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google hunkers down in tough times, rearranges employee priorities]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/04/google-hunkers-down-in-tough-times-rearranges-employee-prioriti/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/04/google-hunkers-down-in-tough-times-rearranges-employee-prioriti/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/04/google-hunkers-down-in-tough-times-rearranges-employee-prioriti/#commentsFiled under: ,

Say it isn't so: Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) may be tightening its always-loose belt and reigning in costs as the economy tries to pick its way out of a recession. The company that prepares free gourmet lunches for employees and gives extraordinary time for employees to develop pet projects is pulling things into reality a bit.

Revenue growth at the search giant has slowed in the last year, as even internet advertising has slowed down in the face of a prolonged economic crunch that we're experiencing. Like many of us here at BloggingStocks have said for years, almost all of Google's revenue comes from online advertising. It was late to the game in trying to develop other revenue sources (yes, even a year makes a difference), and the incremental gains the company has seen in revenue still mostly revolve around some form of advertising. What happens when customers have no budget to advertise?

Google CEO Eric Schmidt told the Wall Street Journal that "We have to behave as though we don't know" (what's going to happen). Google will be cutting efforts to projects that have not caught on, aren't generating revenue and
also cutting back efforts on products that aren't exciting. Google's leader indicated that the company needs to "prioritize our resources and focus more on our core search, ads and apps business." That's great, except the "ads" part..

Google still has the model of envy when it comes to ad-based online revenue, but now it's having to stretch ads into more of its properties, like Google Finance and Google News. Can Google find more revenue engines than those small text ads that appear next to its search results? It has to -- it can't continue the same way of generating its cash flow and expect things to turn out alright in the future. Is Google a one-trick pony? Could be, although it's still too early to tell.

Google hunkers down in tough times, rearranges employee priorities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Eric SchmidtEricSchmidtGOOGGoogleGoogle 20 ruleGoogle revenueGoogle searchGoogle20RuleGoogleRevenueGoogleSearchInc.inthenewsThu, 04 Dec 2008 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google nearing 70% search market share in U.S.]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/google-nearing-70-search-market-share-in-u-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/google-nearing-70-search-market-share-in-u-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/17/google-nearing-70-search-market-share-in-u-s/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)'s will report its second quarter earnings today after the market close. The search engine company will most likely meet or top hyped estimates once again. Literally, Google is becoming an unstoppable force in internet advertising. With more traditional media dollars flowing to the web and away from radio and print mediums, Google stands to grow ever taller.

In June, that sentiment was proven once again as Google's U.S. internet search market share neared 70%. We're talking 69.17% of all searches performed in the U.S. -- home and business -- belonging to Google and its various tentacles. The competition lost market share as Google gained it. Although the gains and drops were small, it's all relative. A 1% drop or gain can mean tens of millions of web searches (or more).

It's taken Google about two years to come from the 60% U.S. search market share level to near 70%, as it crossed the 60% level in July 2006. The company has only grown stronger since then, and Google's advertising inventory increases as its search engine is used -- and that's how Google makes almost all of its money. It can continue to grow its revenues if it continues taking search market share. If that slows down, Google will need to step up the monetization of its other products pretty swiftly. Therein lies the Achilles' Heel for GOOG investors.

Google nearing 70% search market share in U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle market shareGoogle searchGoogleMarketShareGoogleSearchThu, 17 Jul 2008 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia globally hooks up with Google]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/18/nokia-globally-hooks-up-with-google/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/18/nokia-globally-hooks-up-with-google/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/18/nokia-globally-hooks-up-with-google/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) and Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) are partnering more than before as the world's largest cellphone maker announced last Tuesday it will now be installing Google as the primary tool in the "Nokia Search" application that will eventually ship with almost every Nokia phone sold worldwide. This is a huge win for Google, already the world's most-used search company.

To begin with, Nokia will set Google up as the search engine used when customers of such handsets like the Nokia N96, Nokia N78, Nokia 6210 Navigator and Nokia 6220 classic perform searches from their handsets. Eventually, Nokia customers in over 100 countries -- and in 40 languages -- will have access to Google search on all those handsets.

And therein lies the power Google has over information on this planet. IIkka Raiskinen with Nokia said, "This integration allows our consumers the ability to use the innovative search technologies, which have made Google almost synonymous with Internet search." There you have it -- Google's market leadership translated into a huge opportunity in the global wireless arena. It's true that competitor Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) is also heavily marching into wireless, but with that company's identity crisis right now, Google stands to rule the wireless market as well as the PC desktop.

Nokia globally hooks up with Google originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogle SearchGoogleSearchNOKNokia handsetsNokiaHandsetswireless searchWirelessSearchyahooyhooMon, 18 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Growing Google again worries government regulators]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/growing-google-again-worries-government-regulators/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/growing-google-again-worries-government-regulators/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/growing-google-again-worries-government-regulators/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Another day, more worries about Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)'s growing global power. The internet advertising juggernaut has so much influence over the spread of information (and the advertising dollars that come along with that) that it's hard to see just how powerful the company has become in just the last three years alone.

So here we are in 2008, and -- again -- government regulators are growing more concerned about the power Google has. In a capitalist society, where does the free market end and the power of government begin? That's a formula nobody can answer. When the U.S. government made its case against Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) a decade ago, it included pieces of how the company trampled on its competitors using illegal tactics. I've never agreed with the Internet Explorer part of that litigation and never will -- since, after all, consumers are free to download any free web browser they please. Is the growing government concern over Google's growth in the same venue? It shouldn't be.

Is anyone forcing you to use Google every single day? Nope -- it's your choice. Google ascended to the top spot in internet search without distributing a single piece of software to its customers or using any kind of illegal tactics at all. It simply provided the best and most complete experience. Customers recognized that and have made Google the top choice in internet search (and advertising along with it).

Does that require regulation? How absurd. It's true that Google could provide privacy details (and much more) to each customer at regular intervals -- but if it screws up, users will leave Google. But, when a company that does so much right for its consumers grows large because of that fact, competitors turn to any tactic they can to try and stem the flood. Making a better product, in the free enterprise tradition, would seem a better tactic.

Growing Google again worries government regulators originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionGOOGGoogle popularityGoogle searchGoogle, Inc.Google,Inc.GooglePopularityGoogleSearchregulationThu, 10 Jan 2008 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Wikia a large future threat to Google?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/09/is-wikia-a-large-future-threat-to-google/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/09/is-wikia-a-large-future-threat-to-google/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/09/is-wikia-a-large-future-threat-to-google/#commentsFiled under: ,

When Wikipedia was conceived, few would have thought it would end up in the regular top-10 of internet sites -- but it has. The largest encyclopedia in the world has a viewership that any entity on the web would kill for. Its strength remains in the ability of anyone to create and edit encyclopedia entries, giving the power to the people (literally).

What was next, then, for Jimmy Wales, one of Wikipedia's founders? Why, a search engine, of course. Although Google has a tight grip on that market already, the new Wikia.com believes it can contend for the internet search championship belt at some point in time. It's off to a very rocky start (and sorely disappointing to many), but does Wikia.com have a chance to compete against Google where internet stalwarts Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) have so far failed? if so, why?

According to Wales, Wikia.com will succeed because it will be more trustworthy than any other internet search provider. His reason is the same one that has made Wikipedia so popular: anyone will be able to control the results returned from a Wikia.com search. No automated Google algorithms or automated software bots that can be rigged to giving certain search results.

Is Wales correct? Will customers see the value in being able to vote down results that are fluff or not very relevant better than Google's artificially intelligent software? If customers do see this value -- and enough of them start using Wikia.com -- Google could potentially see its largest threat yet in the internet search arena. But it will be years down the road from now before consumers flock to anything other than Google.

Is Wikia a large future threat to Google? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle SearchGoogleSearchJimmy WalesJimmyWalesWikiaWikia.comWikipediaWed, 09 Jan 2008 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Google must maintain laser focus on search throughout 2008]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/04/google-must-maintain-laser-focus-on-search-throughout-2008/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/04/google-must-maintain-laser-focus-on-search-throughout-2008/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/04/google-must-maintain-laser-focus-on-search-throughout-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) had a very busy 2007 -- initiatives and projects, product launches and a furious growth rate that kept analysts guessing every single quarter. With so much going on at the world's most popular internet search engine, will Google lose focus on the bread-n-butter machine of its revenue -- web searches?

If Google would pour as much focus and resources into all its products as it does the constant refinements it gives its search-related advertising, the company would have many revenue legs to stand on (most likely). However, Google has a history of launching products to see how they do before dedicating too many resources to it. After all, it took years for text advertising on Google searches to produce billions in quarterly revenue. The more products prove themselves, the more attention they get.

What other products from Google will get more and more attention in 2008? The New York Times says that Google could eventually control 80% to 90% of internet searches, up from today's sub-70% level. Can Google really attain search engine growth to attain complete and utter domination of search?

If not, where are supplemental revenues going to come from? Google is lining up products to fill this void, but it can't lose focus on its core search business, even for a nanosecond. To fuel all the growth and the massive product launches from the company, the revenue will have to be there. Right now, that's all search -- and it must continue to be Google's main focus in everything it does.

Google must maintain laser focus on search throughout 2008 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle AndroidGoogle SearchGoogleAndroidGoogleSearchsearchweb searchWebSearchFri, 04 Jan 2008 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft can't catch Google search; niche partnerships ahead?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/26/microsoft-cant-catch-google-search-niche-partnerships-ahead/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/26/microsoft-cant-catch-google-search-niche-partnerships-ahead/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/26/microsoft-cant-catch-google-search-niche-partnerships-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It continues to seem that no company can catch Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) in the online advertising space. The company -- whose name is a verb now -- has a majority of the search market for web-based advertising and it will be nearly impossible for any company to make a dent in that system with the current business models used by the competitors. Yahoo! Inc.'s (NASDAQ: YHOO) new Project Panama won't do it and Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) AdCenter will not either. Both of these competitors have basically duplicated the biggest pieces of Google's strategy, but great companies are not overthrown by copycats, but by market disruptors.

Microsoft is no spring chicken here -- the company has a very decent search advertising system to compete in the market with, but even the world's largest software company can't catch Google's huge and first-mover lead here. What can Microsoft do? Become more relevant in the field for niche information search requests, that's what.

Would Microsoft partner with high-traffic sites like job search property Monster.com or Technorati.com? If it can't start eking out more share against Google in the general Internet search market, it may have little choice other than to adopt a different strategy, since competing head-on with the Google folks isn't working. That kind of move would not be necessarily bad, either. I'm quite sure PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) likes being a market follower to The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), and Pepsi's niche approach to creating a whole universe of beverages for every need has won it sales accolades. Perhaps Microsoft (and Yahoo!) should be thinking up the same road here.

Microsoft can't catch Google search; niche partnerships ahead? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle SearchGoogleSearchKOMicrosoft Live SearchMicrosoftLiveSearchMicrosotMSFTPEPYHOOTue, 26 Jun 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Is a former Microsoft lawyer pressing his thumb on the scales of Justice?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/10/is-a-former-microsoft-lawyer-pressing-his-thumb-on-the-scales-of/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/10/is-a-former-microsoft-lawyer-pressing-his-thumb-on-the-scales-of/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/10/is-a-former-microsoft-lawyer-pressing-his-thumb-on-the-scales-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today's New York Times [registration required] suggests that a lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice may have acted as though he was still on Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) legal team. His memo to state attorney generals encouraged them to dismiss a private lawsuit filed by Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) which alleges that Microsoft's Vista operating system effectively crippled Google's desktop search program.

The official, Thomas O. Barnett, an assistant attorney general, had until 2004 been Vice Chairman of the antitrust department at Covington & Burling, the law firm that has represented Microsoft in several antitrust disputes including its 1998 antitrust dispute involving Netscape -- now a subsidiary of Time Warner, Inc. (NYSE: TWX).

Google's lawsuit contends that Microsoft's competing desktop search program slows down Google's desktop search tool. Google's suit alleges that this market conduct is in violation of Microsoft's 2002 consent degree that prohibits Microsoft from designing operating systems that limit the choices of consumers.

Continue reading Is a former Microsoft lawyer pressing his thumb on the scales of Justice?

Is a former Microsoft lawyer pressing his thumb on the scales of Justice? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogleGoogle searchGoogleSearchMicrosoftMSFTThomas O. Barnett,VistaSun, 10 Jun 2007 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Google: The new evil empire or rabid competitor?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/08/google-the-new-evil-empire-or-rabid-competitor/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/08/google-the-new-evil-empire-or-rabid-competitor/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/08/google-the-new-evil-empire-or-rabid-competitor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is Google, Inc.(NASDAQ: GOOG) taking on so much power that it has no choice but to become an "evil empire" in opposition of its corporate mantra, "don't be evil?" Some think so. Google's partnerships to extend its advertising business into every angle of commerce and media format is well documented by now. Not only that, its latest string of high-profile acquisitions tells the tale of a company not just wanting to compete for viewer eyeballs, but dominate every single market that involves them.

Why is this? It's still my contention that Google's goal is to become the largest advertising network on the planet. It will do this so it can receive a cut of every transaction (as a middleman), which promises to smash revenues and profits of just about every company I can imagine. Note that this will not happen overnight (it's just starting now), and Google has a tough fight ahead with various governments, just like Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) has had because of the power it wields.

But an "evil empire?" I'm not sure I agree that Google is "slowly sucking the life out of the mainstream publishing business, and along with it the profession of journalism." Google does make it easy to find content in a very non-preferential way (that's simplifying a very complex problem), and therefore contributes to the democratization of global information on everything as a result. If that ever changes (and there are plenty of watching eyes), Google will indeed become an evil empire. Is information really of less value now that Google controls access to so much of it? What do you think? Information is information regardless of access -- but does the value of it change when access to it changes?

Google: The new evil empire or rabid competitor? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Don't be evilDon'tBeEvilGOOGGoogleGoogle SearchGoogle, Inc.Google,Inc.GoogleSearchMSFTFri, 08 Jun 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask.com readies itself for another Google war]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/06/ask-com-readies-itself-for-another-google-war/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/06/ask-com-readies-itself-for-another-google-war/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/06/ask-com-readies-itself-for-another-google-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ask.com, the web search service that is owned and operated by IAC/InterActive Corp. (NASDAQ: IACI), has been fighting the good fight over the last year with a television, print and radio campaign that practically begs consumers to give its search service a try instead of just defaulting to Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)

While Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) are also competitors, Ask.com has chosen to focus its competitive stirrings directly on Google.

I use Ask.com every day, as some of the features the service provides are actually more intuitive and easier for my line of work that what Google can provide, something I wrote about about this time last year. But I use Google the majority of the time, like most web searchers.

Ask.com's search market share really has not made significant strides against Google lately, although it has grown a bit. The company is again targeting Google with a revamped and enhanced search page that is designed to get more people using Ask.com's service.

In fact, the services that Ask.com is now highlighting look like they were taken from Google's recent "Universal Search" play book. While it's a joy to use Ask.com every day, the company's battle to win more market share will never be easy. Google's brand recognition alone will be nearly impossible for any competitor to topple.

That's not to say Ask.com can't make gains (nor Yahoo! or Microsoft). The only unfortunate part is that even building an equal or semi-equal product does not guarantee customers will dump a competitor to come to you.

Ask.com readies itself for another Google war originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ask searchAsk.comAskSearchbarry dillerBarryDillerGOOGGoogleGoogle searchGoogleSearchIACIinternet advertisingInternetAdvertisingmsftsearchsearch adveritisingsearch marketSearchAdveritisingSearchMarketyhooWed, 06 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Google to offer advice on ... life]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/24/google-to-offer-advice-on-life/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/24/google-to-offer-advice-on-life/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/24/google-to-offer-advice-on-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In one of the first public attempts by Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) to give customers incredibly customized information, the web search leader is poised to build the strongest database yet of detailed human behavior. How does it do this? By storing web searches (and for news, video, etc.) and preferences for its customers. Then, it will take that information to build a model of each Google customer and use that expansive material to give customers advice on making important decisions about their own lives.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt was heard saying, "The goal is to enable Google users to ask questions such as 'What shall I do tomorrow?' and 'What job shall I take?'" -- and that says it all. Google's aim is to be the first artificially intelligent and global network that "knows" about its customers from every angle and can suggest things to them on a personal and custom scale. Is Google becoming the Skynet of the Terminator films? Hardly, but the goal of the company is to enable the most relevant information and render it when needed. Right now, that realm sits squarely in web search, but is expanding rapidly.

Google has already showed (profitably, I might add) that if it can engage the customer in a non-intrusive way and suggest things (advertisements) that fit the customer, then the customer will respond ... and respond ... and respond. Will customers care that Google has so much personal information on their online habits? If it helps those customers be more productive and eases the load on life because of an "information-available-anywhere" type of approach, perhaps not.

Google to offer advice on ... life originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 May 2007 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Eric SchmidtEricSchmidtGOOGGoogleGoogle personal searchGoogle searchGooglePersonalSearchGoogleSearchonline habitsOnlineHabitsProject PanamaProjectPanamaSkynetTerminatorThu, 24 May 2007 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google universal search may bring more copyright lawsuits]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/22/google-universal-search-may-bring-more-copyright-lawsuits/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/22/google-universal-search-may-bring-more-copyright-lawsuits/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/22/google-universal-search-may-bring-more-copyright-lawsuits/#commentsFiled under: ,

Google's unveiling of "universal search" last week meant that its search customers could now see results from web searches not only in terms of related website results, but from video and news sources as well. Previously, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) had not combined search results into a single "one-stop shop" for search customers (who had to visit more Google sites). Well, that is no longer the case. Just perform a search at www.google.com and look at how the results are presented, along with the navigation at the top of your screen.

With all the mess some news websites and companies have given Google in the past, it may get a little worse for Google now that search customers can "find" news articles and related information from news-based websites much more easily than before. Although Google News doesn't "publish" a thing, some have sued Google because it includes (not steals) content from news websites all over the web. I've never heard of an encyclopedia company being sued, nor Wikipedia. But, Google is a target precisely because of how large and popular it is. Information democratization is just not in the vocabulary of some.

Now, news stories and such have appeared in standard Google search results for quite a while now. But, with "News" being right there -- front and center -- as a search resource, will the company see more action in terms of so-called "copyright infringement"? Most likely, yes. Smart news-based websites realize that partnering with Google is great for business (when done correctly), and the "old guard" realizes that fighting off readers is probably not good for business. "Walled gardens" are being torn down and that will not stop. Google will see to that, and for the term "information superhighway" to continue meaning anything, progress needs to move forward, right?

Google universal search may bring more copyright lawsuits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 May 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyright infringementGOOGGoogle SearchGoogle, Inc.Google,Inc.GoogleSearchinformation superhighwaynews websitesuniversal searchUniversalSearchWikipediaTue, 22 May 2007 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Google unveils 'Universal Search' across all its services]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/17/google-unveils-universal-search-across-all-its-services/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/17/google-unveils-universal-search-across-all-its-services/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/17/google-unveils-universal-search-across-all-its-services/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) continues to try to integrate its internet search with its other services. The search giant wants its search user base to use the other services Google offers. To do just that, the company has announced that it has combined its different internet search services into one Universal Search service. What will that do, you may ask? In addition to the regular expected search results from a customer's query, it will also present results from other Google's properties including news, blogs, video and other services Google offers.

You can see it now if you subscribe to Google's services -- there is a new, combined "More" drop-down box that lists Google's search methods in a rather long list. So, if you're searching for "Bill Gates" at www.google.com, you'll now see results from the web, from news websites, from blogs, from Google Video entries (YouTube as well) and other Google services.

This gets customers used to seeing search results in several of Google's lairs, with the intent that those customers will, over time, begin using those service. This should come as no surprise as Google tries to get its internet search customers to use the plethora of other services the company now offers. As more customers use the new Universal Search, the more relevant the advertising becomes (according to Google) as the company learns the fine threads about how, where and why customers search for information across all facets of the Google network. That, in turn, will lead to more click-throughs on ads, which is what Google is really after.

Google unveils 'Universal Search' across all its services originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GOOGGoogle Inc.Google searchGoogleInc.GoogleSearchThu, 17 May 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google draws 64% of U.S. search queries]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/12/google-draws-64-of-u-s-search-queries/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/12/google-draws-64-of-u-s-search-queries/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/12/google-draws-64-of-u-s-search-queries/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

As Doug McIntyre wrote yesterday, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) increased its web search popularity in the U.S. pretty dramatically in March. While Google continues to make headway with web search volume (and making quite a bit of money within that market), Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) have (so far) shown that they are not making any solid gains on Google. A distant player, Ask.com, owned by Barry Diller's InterActive Corp. (NASDAQ: IACI), maintains about 4% of the web search marketplace.

Will any other search engine ever seriously challenge Google? For the near future, probably not. Yahoo! is in the business of building relationships with paying customers (Terry Semel's vision, I think) and Microsoft has a pretty diversified product and revenue stream, although Windows and Office are the main cash cows. Do they need to complete with Google better? They should be (although not a die-hard requirement), and both companies are probably tired of Google riding off into the sunset with all that cash. Microsoft's constant claim that its Live.com search engine is central to its strategy may be fine, but actions speak louder than words. Where are the actions?

Google has an enormous first-mover advantage here. Not because it was first with a search engine index, but because it was first with a search engine with text ads that customers not only found unobtrusive, but helpful in many cases. That alone is why Google is where it is, and why the other companies can't keep up.

Google draws 64% of U.S. search queries originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ask.comGOOGGoogleGoogle searchGoogleSearchIACiaciInterActiveLive.comMicrosoftMSFTYahoo!YHOOThu, 12 Apr 2007 09:35:00 EST