Will Google become the Microsoft of the Internet? It's a very simple question, and after downloading the recent chat client from the Google Platform, Google Talk, I really had to do some research and dive into Google's corporate information and various news analyses about the company.
 |  | | | | | ⓒ2005 Google |
Having become the "world's most used search engine" we tend to see Google as a simple Web page with a textbox and the "search" button beside it. Every time we submit a query on that page, say for example a query like "power of google," even though Google says it searches 8.1 billion web pages, and gives 26,500,000 results, all we tend to see is the first 100 results. A more indulging person goes for the next 100 results at the maximum. After that we give up.
Out of curiosity, I wanted to know how long it would take to just have a look at the very last result page. An average user without going for an advanced search and of course clicking every single results page, since what we look for is not a random result as we're looking for something and "searching" specifically, on the Internet.
We would be able to view the last result page in 30 days if we click a result page every second without any interruption (30.6 days to be exact). The point is practically we never get to see the nth result. It's easier for a search query to compute and say there are 26,500,000 results, but where is the 26,500,000th result and what is that result? Have you ever thought of that? The size of the index may grow, but what we see will most probably the same, as everything Google provides is based on its PageRank technology.
Behind the scenes is a mammoth integrated server system and what Google claims it to be the world's best algorithm for search optimization. To understand what Google does, you need to get your hands on its mini (or even micro) version of its search engine, the Google Desktop. On a real time basis, Google Desktop builds and updates an index of the changes in your computer, from where it brings up the results dynamically. To put it simply, Google search is just the mega version of the Google Desktop. From a small garage startup to a multibillion-dollar company is seven years is no small feat.
Starting with basic Internet search to Google News aggregator and Gmail, Google is seen diversifying its field of operations in its aggressive way launching the chat client Google Talk and removing the "Beta" tag from its Gmail service. But as the founders put it, their strategy split up is 70:20:10 with 70 percent of Google's focus in search and advertising, 20 percent in sub-core ideas like Gmail and Google Desktop and the other 10 percent in miscellaneous prototype projects.
|  | | | | | ⓒ2005 Google |
Considering the diversification of Google's operations into a slew of new services, products and product upgrades, what's more interesting here how the world will be in Google's hands. Yes, Google now searches 8+ billion pages of the Internet. It dynamically indexes and caches the Internet and by far Google is the highest rated source for information. Google has and will continue to have the most accurate blueprint of the Internet in the years to come.
Monopoly is the term that stands for the ability to maneuver and control the market single-handedly. The market in Google's hands is the whole of the Internet. The growing concern is that, will Google continue to be the do-gooder of the Internet or will it move to an evil facet? With an array of new services, and with increasing dependence on Google for information, what will happen if it starts demanding, suppressing and dictating the Internet, just like Microsoft did with its Windows OS, MS Office and Internet Explorer.
The more Google monopolizes the Internet, the more it becomes indispensable. With this power, Google can refuse to index any individual Web site which it feels inappropriate for the Internet ... or may be that concerns the company. Today, Google uses "text-based" ads even on its Annual Financial Report. Google's 70 percent focus is on search and advertising. Even to get information on Google we search using the Google search engine.
With a growing multibillion-page index in its hands, such manipulations are a grave concern. In the hands of founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, their 10 philosophies may hold good, but as Google files for its second issue of shares (its first IPO was Aug. 18, 2004) and moves further into the public domain, how much longer will the "Do do evil" philosophy remain true?
Now that it has Google Maps, Google News, Google Earth, Froogle, Google Desktop, Blogger, Gmail, Google Groups, Google Talk, Picasa and more, I personally feel its one of the basic 10 things in it philosophy, "It's best to do one thing really, really well" is at stake! As time passes, Google will need to rethink all its philosophies.
But then, will it be a good company or bad company? Only, time will tell. But as of now, we know one thing: Google will certainly be like Microsoft, an "invincible company."
|
