The True Goal of Google
It seems there are a lot of people who are divided on whether Google is a gentle giant, or a looming evil. Some people are saying they are the next Microsoft and meaning that in both good and bad connotations. I read one blog where the author compares Google to GM and shows how Google thinks outside of the box. So I feel it’s a good moment to let everyone see Google from my point of view. *Please note, this is my opinion and not some type of transcript from a private talk with anyone working for Google.* Google, like any other good company, is out to make money. From that stand point you have to ask yourself what Google does to bring in income. They sell advertisement, and they seem to be very good at searches. So when Google does something unexpected (web browsers, cellular phone operating systems, netbook operating systems, voice services…) people immediately think that Google has either, not planned out something and is just making an error, or and I quote Abu-Hadba, Microsoft Vice President of Developer and Platform Evangelism, “Google is trying to distract competitors from attacking its cash cow, search.” Now as stated earlier, search and advertising is Google’s bread and butter, but saying that their other ventures are distractions is like saying Microsoft knows operating systems but their Exchange server is just a distraction. Everything Google has done has had the same goal in mind in the end. They can say that they are working to make the Internet friendlier and easier and faster and all the good talk, and they can say it with 100% conviction because that is 100% true. But think about why a company would go out of it’s way to make it easier for you to get onto the Internet. You don’t ever have to buy anything from Google, or make an International phone call using Google Voice, or purchase a book through Google Books. But your neighbor may, and during your search you may just click on a sponsored advertisement. Your searches help determine what is popular, and which advertisements to show more often. You being able to get onto the Internet faster and easier means more than likely you will get onto the Internet more often. Which of course means, you will give Google more data to mine and help them create a better advertising structure. Personally, while I may not like seeing banner ads everywhere on the Internet, I would rather have them relate to what I am looking for instead of a steady stream of erectile dysfunction, or Nigerian Prince unwanted marketing. As for Google trying to oust Microsoft… well, yeah I do believe that is a side effect they are looking for as well. Not so much in terms of simply trying to run them out of business, but think about it from a company stand point. When you own a buisness you want to be the best possible so you can increase your earnings. If there is another company out there that has been known as tops in all they do, you would just love to be known as “even better than X.” Well Microsoft = X. As long as there is a Microsoft, Google will have the push to continue improving and working to come up with new and creative ideas and products… that will eventually lead back to gathering information to improve their search and advertising. But here is the most interesting part… now that Google has touched the cellular phone market they have come up against other contenders including Apple, Blackberry, Symbian and the re-energized Palm offering WebOS along side the standard Microsoft battle. So while Windows will respond with Microsoft Mobile 7, there will still be others out there to push the limits as well. It will be a steady fight that has already lept off of the Internet into the palms of your hands. It will still come down to, “how can I use this to run information through Google’s databases.” If Google Voice never serves a single advertisement on their site, and never sells a single international phone call, they will still consider it profitable. If everyone who has an account receives one voicemail a week, Google can simply index the transcripts (they don’t even need to collect any personal data about who called who) finding out what words are mentioned most and display an advertisement based on that to CNN’s home page. In the end world domination is only the goal of small mice with big heads and odd dictators with big missiles. Google simply wants to be the best and make money doing it. If it helps that you gain some Internet speed in the process they see it as a benefit.
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