January 14, 2009

Google Apps Reseller Program Could Become Biggest Affiliate Program

Google is building a reseller program for its apps and training future affiliates to build up their market share of email, calendaring, project management and team site creation, as well as documents, video sharing and collaboration.

The program will give resellers 20% of each $50/user/year they sign up, as well as any other service fees they may charge for implementing them to a company's specifications or continued maintenance or service. This could mean a large amount of money for people able to convert companies with large user bases.

After completing a test - not unlike the one for AdWords Professional - the resellers/affiliates will be able to use the Google Apps badge.

As the video below states: "You bill the customers and Google bills you... you, not Google, has the relationship with the customers. You keep the margins and the service and maintenance fees."

This is a clever way for Google to build out their cloud technologies, as well as challenge many of Microsoft's core products. They are building a sales force they will train and help implement their products.

Posted by Frank Watson at 5:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 5, 2008

Google Terminates Yahoo Advertising Partnership

Yahoo announced that Google has decided to terminate its advertising partnership with Yahoo, "following indication from the Department of Justice that it would seek to block it, despite Yahoo!'s proposed revisions to address the DOJ's concerns," the Yahoo press release stated.

While I understand Google does not want to add another legal battle, does this mark a pull back on the part of Google from their previous aggressive acquisition and partnership agenda?

The press release went on to state:

While the implementation of the services agreement with Google would have enabled Yahoo! to accelerate its investments in its top business priorities through an infusion of additional operating cash flow, this deal was incremental to Yahoo!'s product roadmap and does not change Yahoo!'s commitment to innovation and growth in search. The fundamental building blocks of a stronger Yahoo! in both sponsored and algorithmic search were put in place independent of the agreement.

Hopefully this will not further impact Yahoo or Google's stock prices. Yahoo had announced a possible partnership/merger with AOL earlier this week but the loss of the Google partnership may now jeopardize that as well.

Barron's Eric Savitz reported this could lead to another Microsoft offer - though one lowered to $20 a share - which I doubt Yahoo would entertain.

Posted by Frank Watson at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 29, 2008

Blip.tv, DoubleClick Inserting Ads Into ITunes and Other Videos

Blip.tv CEO "Mike Hudack revealed that his company has found a way to dynamically insert ads from DoubleClick into video downloads on iTunes and elsewhere," the Washington Post reported.

Given the huge use of the tube sites such as YouTube and the increasing popularity of downloading ITune videos this new technology should prove a good revenue source for Google - owner of DoubleClick.

"For the past six months or so, blip.tv has been experimenting with placing pre-roll, post-roll, and overlay ads in some iTunes videos. These ads are served by DoubleClick and have hyperlinks that make it easy to track when somebody clicks on an ad," the Washington post noted. Videos downloaded to Ipods and other offline players will not be tracked at this stage - though given the synching technology this could be adapted to soon.

Posted by Frank Watson at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 2, 2008

SEW Experts: Yahoo's Judgment Day

Microsoft was set to save Yahoo from certain death with a solid offer to purchase assets, or so we thought. According to yesterday's shareholder presentation, the deal wasn't such a great idea. In today's Searching for Meaning column, "Yahoo's Judgment Day," Kevin Ryan notes that, while the jury is still out on the merits of the Google-Yahoo partnership, this is the first time since the Yahoocrosoft insanity began that it's publicly outlined strategic thought and tactical execution plans that make sense for Yahoo's future.

» Full story

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 30, 2008

Google Maps Inks 5 Year Deal with Tele Atlas

Google Maps has signed a five year agreement with Netherlands-based digital mapping company, Tele Atlas. Google will now have access to Tele Atlas' content for over 200 countries for current and future projects, including Google Earth and mobile applications.

"Google's innovation and leadership is undisputed, and we are proud to have the opportunity to be the map foundation for one of the world's most progressive web companies," said Bill Henry, CEO of Tele Atlas. "This agreement is important too because it gives us access to input from a significant online community of map users, whose feedback can help us keep our maps fresh and accurate."

"Geospatial data enhances global search significantly by organizing data and delivering results based on location," said John Hanke, director of Google Earth and Google Maps. "Tele Atlas' map quality and the company's innovative approach to business were the key drivers for our decision."

Related Reading: Google Maps Adds Richer Data to Search Google Launches Google Map Maker Google Opens Location-Aware Application to 3rd Party Developers Google Maps for Mobile Adds Public Transportation Directions Google Launches Google Earth API and Browser Plug-in

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 25, 2008

SEW Experts: Yahoo's Suicide Pact with Google

Who cares if Yahoo outsources its search advertising to Google? You should. In today's Searching for Meaning column, "Yahoo's Suicide Pact with Google," Kevin Ryan asks, 'On what planet is having only one place to buy anything a good thing for competitive pricing?'

» Full story

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 12, 2008

Yahoo, Google Collaborate on Search Ads. Apocalypse Expected Soon.

In what must be one of the seven signs of the apocalypse, Yahoo and Google have agreed to extend the advertising tests they participated in last month to a broader-scale distribution partnership.

Under the agreement, Yahoo would outsource a portion of its search ad inventory to Google, and potentially to other providers in the future. Yahoo now has the option to display Google ads alongside its own natural search results and other Web properties in the U.S. and Canada.

Yahoo will select the search term queries and the pages where Google AdSense for Search or AdSense for Content ads will be shown. The deal does not affect Yahoo's algorithmic search.

Yahoo expects the deal to improve monetization of its pages, potentially adding $800 million in annual revenue. In the first 12 months following implementation, Yahoo expects the agreement to generate an estimated $250 million to $450 million in incremental operating cash flow.

The open bidding system will likely utilize the abilities of Yahoo's Right Media Exchange software to deliver those third-party ads on Yahoo's search results. Such a deal could still include spurned suitor Microsoft, which could also allay regulatory fears that Google is getting even bigger than it already is. To play nice with regulators, the two have agreed to delay implementation for up to three and a half months to give the U.S. Department of Justice time to review the arrangement.

The agreement has a term of up to ten years: a 4-year initial term and two 3-year renewals at Yahoo!'s option. Financial terms between the two companies were not disclosed. Either party will have the option of terminating the agreement in the event of a change in control of either party, but if Yahoo initiates it within the next 24 months, it will owe Google a termination fee is $250 million, subject to reduction by 50 percent of revenues earned by Google under the agreement.

The two-week test in April reportedly affected about 3 percent of Yahoo search queries, and only applied to search traffic from yahoo.com in the U.S. and did not include Yahoo's publisher network or other partners.

As an additional token of newfound camaraderie, Yahoo and Google agreed to enable interoperability between their instant messaging services.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 6:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 3, 2008

Google LookingTo Kill Affiliate Marketing?

Okay we know that Google is divesting itself of Performics.... well the search arm anyway. They are keeping the affiliate marketing arm.

Google had started their version of affiliate marketing some time ago with their CPA ads. Sign up through AdSense and you could use the creatives and get paid on conversions, while advertisers could offer amounts for conversions and Google tracked to see if it was a better financial deal for them.... this has not taken off.

But grabbing experienced affiliate marketing consultants could turn this into the hope they once saw in it.

Unfortunately it is a move similar to the push into analytics and ad serving - if it works Google will provide some serious competition to all other affiliate programs. They have the ability to be the nexus between a lot of publishers and a lot of advertisers and to really make an impact in the space.

I am at the Casino Affiliate Conference right now in Amsterdam and plan on asking the large vendors here how they see the possibility of Google competing in their space. Will keep you posted.

On the other side, ValueClick has shown an interest, according to ClickZ.. Now ValueClick pumps up its already global services. They offer ad serving management, SEO, affiliate marketing (maybe do a trade), display advertising, behavioral.... well equipped and adding an additional search force possibly ....

Posted by Frank Watson at 2:21 PM | Permalink

December 14, 2007

Reading Between The Lines DoubleClick Deal Will Get Okayed In US

The New York Times wrote an interesting article about the DoubleClick Google deal which suggests the deal will get approved.

The article discussing a possible conflict of interest with the FTC Chairperson Deborah Platt Majoras stated that even if she removed herself the vote would be 2-2. It takes a majority to stop a sale.

Majoras' husband works for Jones Day who has been retained to represent Google in the matter. Interestingly another member of the panel, William E. Kovacic, is married to a partner at Jones Day, though no mention of a possible conflict there was mentioned.

Posted by Frank Watson at 4:23 PM | Permalink

November 12, 2007

Google Wants To Be An American Idol

Talks between Google and Simon Fuller - TV and music impressario - to develop a global online video presence, according to reports and rumors.

Fuller was part of the creative team that developed American Idol and the UK version Pop Idol and has been in talks with Google for over a year. IPTV is seen as a coming technology and the pair seem to be negotiating about developing content for this new form of television.

"It is likely that the partnership will involve creating original content competing directly with major TV networks in the UK. Neither 19 nor Google were available to comment today.

Google has long been planning to ramp up its internet TV services, having launched its pay-per-view Google Video TV and film service last year. Now owning YouTube, the internet giant has been building up an array of deals with content producers and broadcasters over the past year, such as ITN, CBS and Sony BMG," C21Media stated.

Posted by Frank Watson at 1:15 PM | Permalink

November 5, 2007

Google Outsources Product Uploads

Google has announced its newly established Product Search Partners who can help people develop and submit feeds for their products.

Seems Google likes letting people outside the company provide help to others seeking to have their products entered into the Google database. The handful of companies - the Google information page shows just three at the moment (Channel Adviser, Channel Intelligence and Single Feed) - should reap the benefits of being recommended by Google.

Google seems to like outsourcing over adding more work for themselves - the AdWords Professionals, and other non-company assistants seem to be growing. An interesting way to build a media giant.

Posted by Frank Watson at 1:58 PM | Permalink

October 24, 2007

Google, Nielsen Establish Strategic Relationship

Google and the Nielsen Company announced the establishment of a multi-year relationship starting with gathering demographic data for the Google TV Ads.

Google will combine Nielsen demographic data with the aggregated set-top box data it is already using, giving advertisers more targeting capabilities. Data derived from Nielsen's TV ratings panels will provide Google's TV Ads advertisers with the demographic composition of the audience.

Google and Nielsen also promise future plans to work together to measure online and offline media.

"As we continue to expand our TV advertising program, it is important that we provide advertisers and agencies with data that will help them reach their target demographic with the right ad," Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, said in a statement. "Working closely with Nielsen, the industry leader, improves our measurement capabilities by adding a demographic layer on top of existing set-top box data. We're pleased that Nielsen is working with us in this endeavor."

Posted by Frank Watson at 10:36 AM | Permalink

October 23, 2007

Mozilla Should Be Renamed Googzilla or GoogleFox

Mozilla released their income numbers recently and it seems 85% of their income is from the partnership with Google, according to ZDnet.

In 2006 they made $66.8 million, up from $52.9 million in 2005 - and 85% of that came from Google. "As in 2005 the vast majority of this revenue is associated with the search functionality in Mozilla Firefox, and the majority of that is from Google," wrote Mitchell Baker in her blog following the financial release.

With expenses below $20 million, Mozilla has a lot of left over cash compliments of the search giant. They increased their assets to $74 million, about $22 million over 2005 numbers.

It is hard to see the two companies parting ways any time soon. Google gets a great deal of traffic from the arrangement.

The Mozilla Project seems to be cashing in on the Google alliance.... name change anyone?

Posted by Frank Watson at 1:00 PM | Permalink

October 22, 2007

Google, DoubleClick: Myths and Facts

The ups and downs of Google's purchase of DoubleClick has created a lot of misinformation. Detailing what is happening may help people get a better grasp on the situation and an understanding of the inner fight going on in the industry.

DoubleClick is mainly an online advertising serving platform. It is helps supply the ads of many of the major online advertisers - giving the code to the publishers running the ads - and providing a third party that is the arbitrator of real clicks and impressions. An invaluable tool for the continued success of internet advertising. And one that has been getting attention lately as articles in the NYT and others can attest.

Microsoft had been a bidder for DoubleClick but stopped well before the $3.1 billion Google has offered. That makes DoubleClick twice as valuable as YouTube....

While Microsoft is fronting the Congressional inquiry into the purchase - conflict of interest and anti-trust issues seem to be getting bandied about - it should be noted that Microsoft owns DoubleClick's biggest competitor Atlas (acquired when they bought aQuantive).

Meanwhile in Europe Yahoo is heading the push with the EU. Yahoo has longer online advertising standing in Europe.

``Combining Google's search business with DoubleClick's ad technology will strengthen Google's dominant position in Europe,'' Andrew Cecil, head of public policy for Yahoo! Europe, said in an e-mailed statement today, Bloomberg reported. ``The end result will be higher prices for Internet publishers and advertisers and less choice for European consumers.''

Is Google moving towards being a total online advertising resource? Absolutely, they have search, analytics, content publishing resources both with AdSense and the newly added YouTube, and now an ad serving platform with video and rich media expertise - but also tracking abilities for the source of the pageviews, and more importantly the ability to monitor behavior across all sources of traffic.

Add DoubleClick and Google now has access to the bulk of the world's online behavior. Not only search behavior, but anywhere they are controlling the ads. Impression and click counts are not the only thing they gain buying DoubleClick.

They tried to get the world to give them access to online behavior when they bought Urchin and started giving away online analytics. Fortunately the majority of online companies decided to keep paying independent third parties - though Google would have had no problem forcing out all the web analytics companies that needed to have their customers pay for their programs.

The buy of DoubleClick is another end run - sure Google is claiming they will not use this information - bit hard not to collect it - but with each step Google is fast becoming Big Brother.

While Microsoft has had its own battles over their Big Brother aspirations and Yahoo may just be trying to protect their financial security - will the US government or the EU be able to pull Google back if they are allowed to add DoubleClick to their arsenal.

Posted by Frank Watson at 11:24 AM | Permalink

August 30, 2007

Google Adds China.com As Search Partner

Google announced it will partner with Chinese internet service provider, China.com to provide search results for the site's portal and China.com's search results.

The conversion of Chinese sites to Google reflects its growing popularity in the Asian market.

"By expanding our partnership with Google, we can further improve user satisfaction and encourage more robust growth for China.com," Xiaowei Chen, president of China.com, Forbes reported.

Posted by Frank Watson at 11:50 AM | Permalink

August 9, 2007

Sina Announces Google Partnership Deal

Sina, the Chinese portal, announced details of their partnership with Google to provide search and advertising for them, a VNUnet.com report stated.

"Under the deal Sina will carry Google's Chinese search service and advertising, and the companies will share the revenue generated. Sina does not expect to see significant revenue from the partnership before the fourth quarter", it was reported.

Posted by Frank Watson at 3:47 PM | Permalink

June 11, 2007

Google Partners With Chinese Portal Sina

Despite recent cautionary articles Google has announced a partnership deal with Sina. The Chinese portal is a major player in China and helps Google push further into the market. According to the release, Google will provide Sina with a search box they will use on the portal.

Google will also have full access to Sina's China news, which though filtered by the government will still increase the Chinese content Google has.

"Through our strategic cooperation, online users as well as online advertisers stand to benefit from the leveraging of strong brands, traffic and technologies from the two companies," said Sina Chief Executive Charles Chao.

Posted by Frank Watson at 1:26 PM | Permalink

June 5, 2007

Salesforce, Google Confirm Partnership

The rumored partnership between Google and hosted applications provider Salesforce.com have been confirmed, but at this point is little more than a way for Google to sell more AdWords ads to Salesforce.com users.

According to a ClickZ story, Salesforce.com will become the first on-demand reseller of Google's AdWords platform under a strategic alliance to help both companies win small- to mid-size ad accounts. It's similar to the first agreement Google struck with Intuit for AdWords integration with QuickBooks.

The rumors of a tighter integration between salesforce.com and Google's on-demand applications will have to wait for another day.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 2:18 AM | Permalink

May 21, 2007

Salesforce.com, Google Partnership Discussions

The Washington Post reported talks between Google and Salesforce.com, a hosted CRM application vendor.

This move is another direct challenge to Microsoft, which offers CRM products, but also could add an element to Google Analytics that only a handful of other companies have: the ability to track offline conversions to online advertising.

Visual Sciences, formerly known as WebSideStory, is one such competitor that will be impacted by this alliance. Using the Salesforce.com API, an analytics company is able to pass the lead information along with the advertising info - thus creating a two-edged sword for improving ROI.

The first and most obvious advantage is the ability to improve spends for offline conversions. The second, and more attractive to large scale sales teams, is the ability to determine where the better quality leads originate, and thus pass them to the right sales people.

One wonders how far in advance this alliance was in the minds of the people at Google, or if the creative CEO at Salesforce.com saw it as a great way to partner with a company that could help it improve its market share against Microsoft's CRM products.

Give your opinions here.

Posted by Frank Watson at 5:19 PM | Permalink

April 25, 2007

Google Builds AdWords Storefront for Intel Resellers

Beginning next week, Intel's channel partners will be able to plan and buy AdWords campaigns via a custom storefront created by Intel and Google. The "online marketing storefront" lets licensed resellers, which are often small businesses, buy AdWords ads by filling out a simple form, which Intel and Google will use to " facilitate the production and execution" of the ad-buying process.

While many of these partners are already buying AdWords ads directly from Google, this program will facilitate the coordination of ads with Intel and other partners, an Intel exec told News.com.

The storefront also includes tools for offline marketing by channel partners, allowing them to place print ads, order merchandise and services, and customize collateral with their company information or logo.

Google has been working with Intel over the past year to create a suite of tools and services for Intel's existing and new small- to mid-size channel partners, according to John Topping, Google's director of the tech/B2B vertical. These tools are designed to provide an intuitive interface to help create and manage brand-compliant AdWords campaigns efficiently, with pre-approved ad templates, he said. Channel partners also get customized AdWords education, training and support.

"In essence, this is Google's first collaboration to help quickly and easily integrate AdWords into distributed marketing programs like Intel Inside," Topping said.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 11:36 AM | Permalink

April 16, 2007

Google Audio, Clear Channel Ink Deal

Getting buried under the DoubleClick deal, Google and Clear Channel Communications Inc. also announced a long-term agreement Sunday to place advertising for its online customers on more than 675 Clear Channel radio stations. The financial terms of the deal are not available at this time.

''This radio partnership with Clear Channel is a pretty big statement that Google is in the radio industry to stay and have a big impact,'' said Drew Hilles, Google Audio's national sales director.

Google Audio advertisers will have the ability to access Clear Channel's national distribution system within a simple interface, which would offer access to 1,600 stations though the Audio Ads service. Targeting options will include location and specific time slots, as well as provide feedback on the campaigns.

Posted by Elisabeth Osmeloski at 10:22 AM | Permalink

March 21, 2007

Google Hires SideKick Team To Build GPhone

The G Phone is coming and it needs a sidekick.

Okay that sentence was a little cheesy... apparently Google has hired the team that developed the T Mobile SideKick phone, according to an article in the Guardian.

"Google has made no secret of the potential it sees in letting people access the internet while on the move, but progress towards compelling and easy to use internet-enabled mobile phones has been slow.

Google has already teamed up with several mobile operators, including Vodafone and T-Mobile, to bring its search engine to other phones. Last week O2 announced it had signed up Google as a partner for its German subsidiary, bringing the popular search engine to its users in a move that will also generate advertising revenue.

The company has also been forming partnerships with handset makers. In January it signed up the Korean manufacturer Samsung to put features including its search engine, Google Maps and its email service on to phones" the Guardian reported.

Posted by Frank Watson at 10:12 AM | Permalink

March 19, 2007

Comcast Playing Hardball with Google?

The Wall Street Journal reports (behind pay wall), based on "people familiar with the matter," that cable operator Comcast is talking to Microsoft to replace Google as the search provider on the homepage of its broadband subscribers. According to the story, Comcast is making $70 million in shared revenue, but feels entitled to at least $100 million.

That could mean one of two things: either Comcast is shopping its business, or its looking for a better deal with Google. In either case, Comcast wins in this situation.

The first option is that Comcast is not happy with their current deal with Google to supply search for their broadband customer portal, and the WSJ reporters are so well connected they were able to get the scoop against Comcast's wishes to keep the negotiations private. If it's true, Comcast will likely get a better deal on the revenue sharing arrangement and other terms, and Comcast is happy.

The second scenario is much more likely, in my opinion. Usually "people familiar with the matter" have an agenda. If someone from Comcast, for example, wanted to send a message to Google, then what better way than to share this juicy bit of information with the WSJ, under condition of anonymity? Google feels the pressure, offers a better deal, and Comcast is happy.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 9:28 AM | Permalink

March 7, 2007

Friendster Drops Yahoo For Google

Reuters reported today that social networking company Friendster has signed an agreement to run Google ads, replacing their previous ad provider Yahoo.

The plan calls for text and display advertising to run on Friendster members' personal profile sites, worldwide, and the company will introduce Google Web search across the site in the second quarter of 2007, Reuters stated.

Friendster has more impact in Asian countries, Reuters reported. "Upward of 45 percent of Friendster's audience is in Asia now." The Asian age of users is also younger than those using Friendster in the United States.

Friendster had 19.4 million active global users in January, up from a recent low of 13.6 million in March of last year. according to research firm comScore Networks.

Posted by Frank Watson at 2:07 PM | Permalink

January 18, 2007

PPC Back Fill Map or Who Is King Of Garbitrage

While this is not news - it really should be. Most of the small search engines are arbitraging one way or another. And the Big Three (clearly 3 since Ask back fills Google PPC) make their cuts on the front end.

A Bruce Clay map for all the PPC partnerships and the rules that govern them would be handy.

My rant here started when I noticed at Ask that we were not being served Ask ads but rather our Google ads. Spoke to one of the people over at Ask and was told that they back fill with Google when the CTR drops below their acceptable level.

Guess that is the level where Google would pay them more to put their ads in... so some of our $10 plus Google terms pay Ask more (rumors of what percentage vary but let's work with 60%) - they get $6 a click from Google when we advertise for say $3 on Ask.... so the CTR would have to be 200% to make them enough money to change....

They are not the only ones.... I see many of the small engines pushing their results out into even thinner search provider portals.... the search results may stay at the site but the results are feed straight from another engine... yet many of these engines also arbitrage their onsite inventory with one of the Big Three so they force their advertisers to bid up to at least what these other people are willing to pay.

Not making much sense - after a while people are going to realize they are just using variations on Google, Yahoo and MSN and just go there first.

I want to start a Back Fill Map - so everyone post what you know in the forum and I will develop something that we all can use.

Posted by Frank Watson at 4:05 PM | Permalink

January 11, 2007

Friendster Using Google Search and Ads

Friendster CEO Kent Lindstrom announced the company will be using Google for search as well as using Google ads on its social portal.

Friendster is currently using Yahoo for its search partner.

The initial agreement will be for two years.

Posted by Frank Watson at 3:58 PM | Permalink

January 5, 2007

Google Buys Into Chinese Video Download Site

So Google seems to like video sites. Despite the fact that YouTube has been ordered to shut down in Brazil, Google has bought into Xunlei, and will integrate its search technology with the popular Chinese site.

The Times Online reported Google had invested enough with Xunlei to be considered a "strategic partner."

"Under the terms of the investment, Xunlei users will be able to search the site's multi-media content using Google's engine, while Google will gain access to a slice of the lucrative Chinese search market, where it attracts only 16 per cent of search queries", the Times reports.

Xunlei would not specify how much Google had spent, but its chief executive, Sean Zuo, said at a briefing in Beijing that the company would be a "strategic investor".

Posted by Frank Watson at 10:22 AM | Permalink

November 27, 2006

Q&A On Google's Belgium News Agreements

This week, news emerged about an agreement between Google and two Belgian author groups that were suing it over copyright issues. Below, a short Q&A on what this means for Google. Highlights: The case goes on with three other groups taking part, but large damages seem unlikely. The new deal gives especially seems to give Google photo rights. Google says it is not doing an about-face on opt-out in Denmark. More about these an other issues covered below, based on a talk with Google spokesperson Jessica Powell. Plus, some bonus stats on how much traffic newspapers get from search engines.

Q. The case was originally filed against Google by Copiepresse. What are the other groups that joined and when did they come on?

A. In mid-October, Sofam, Scam, SAJ  and Assucopie all joined the case after Google posted the Belgian court ruling in late September.

Q. Who remains as part of the case?

A. Copiepresse, SAJ and Assucopie.

Q. Has Google paid any fines in the case so far?

A. Despite rumors, Google reiterated again today that it has not been asked to pay any fines.

Q. If Google loses the case, will it have to pay any damages?

A. Google says it hasn't been asked to pay any fines.

Q. What do the new agreements with the author groups Sofam and Scam allow?

A. Sofam represents Belgian photographers while SCAM covers mainly audio/video content. Exact uses are being worked out. As with the AP deal, Google highlighted this as providing new uses rather than a solution to the legal challenges over spidering and thumbnail image use. "It's a way for us to use their content in new ways beyond what copyright law currently allows us without the permission of the authors," said Powell said.

Q. Was there a financial aspect to the agreement?

A. Google's not commenting. Google is definitely paying the Associated Press to use some of its content, as the AP itself has reported. However, the exact terms, mechanisms or amounts have never been disclosed. Google wouldn't get into specifics on the financial details on the two Belgian deals other than to say these were deals that will allow the search engine to use the content in new ways.

Q. Is Google talking with the other parties to the suit?

A. Google said it won't comment on discussions but that it's always open to dialogue.

Q. Did Google reverse course and go opt-in for Google News Denmark?

A. Google says it chose to only launch in Sweden and Norway and that going forward it is not planning on an opt-in model in Denmark or elsewhere. The reason, says Powell, is that the company believes Google News complies with copyright law. "If publishers don't want their websites to appear in search engines, robots.txt enables them to automatically prevent their content from being indexed. And we even go beyond that: if a newspaper doesn't want to be a part of Google News, they only need to ask, and we remove them."

Between The Lines Time

The use of news images is one of the touchiest areas for Google to deal with, as I covered more in my Search Engines, Permissions & Moving Forward In Copyright Battles article.

The Sofam deal might help solve some of Google's legal issues in Belgium. The group represents the rights of nearly 4,000 photographers in Belgium, Google said. Google did NOT say how this might translate into usage at Google News. However, potentially this means Google can have photos in Google News even from publication that it had to remove from Google Belgium by court order. The Sofam deal might provide legal cover there. Of course, if those publications are the only source of certain photos -- and they block use through systems like robots.txt -- that would still keep the content out of Google. I'm also following up more on this particular issue.

The deals do not restore access for Google to list textual news stories it finds. That means it has to remain hopeful that the legal case will go its way, if it wants to prevent some type of negotiations with the publishers that have opted-out.

If the case goes against Google, it doesn't appear to be facing in major damages. If these were to be levied, that should have happened when it lost the first time. Instead, the publishers will remain out of Google, making Google News Belgium less useful than it would be. However, they also deny themselves traffic from Google. Possibly Google might negotiate a payment-based system to include them. Equally possible, it might also decide to hold its ground and focus attention on other countries, to see if it can wait the publishers out.

If the case goes for Google, then it regain content that will help enhance Google News Belgium, unless those publisher decide to specifically block spidering, which Google would almost certainly honor.

Overall, the action in Belgium -- as with Denmark -- underscore that in smaller markets, Google (and other search engines) may come under increasing pressure to negotiate deals to list material. The players are fewer and have more power concentrated among them. Whether these will be lucrative deals remains to be seen. In smaller markets, Google might decide it's simply not worth figuring out some type of financial arrangement -- especially for Google News which carries no ads, so generates no direct revenue. That might bring about more non-financial arrangements where the publishers cooperate for the benefit of getting traffic and also being dealt with personally by Google, rather than impersonally through automated permissions systems like robots.txt

Traffic To Search Engines

As an aside, I got a request from another reporter trying to understand how much traffic newspapers get from search engines. My response:

There's no specific answer to this. It will vary from paper to paper. Places like the New York Times will likely get a lot, because they specifically work to generate search traffic. Papers such as those suing Google in Belgium are getting probably nil, since they were removed by court order from Google.

In general, surveys have found sites getting anywhere from 8 to 13 percent of traffic from search engines. That might not sound like much, but often the first visit leads to repeat visits.

I also included two people on my response who I thought might have some better stats. Marshall Simmonds, chief search strategist for the New York Times Company, came back with this:

The one stat I can report is the NYT gets approximately 22% of its traffic from search engines. This number is very actively growing.

Bill Tancer, over at Hitwise, reported this:

Hitwise tracks 800,000 sites divided into 170 industry categories. One of those categories is our News & Media – Print category which covers Newspaper and Magazine websites (3,180 sites total). For the week ending 11/18/06 (based on our U.S. sample), Google was the #1 site sending traffic to the category at 13.66%, Search Engines as a whole were responsible for 22.44% of traffic for that same week.

That's a lot of traffic, however you slice it. There's no doubt things like Google News help build Google up as a company. But at the same time, Google News drives a ton of traffic to newspapers that are seeing the web as a new revenue source that might save them as print subscriptions dry up.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 12:35 PM | Permalink

November 1, 2006

Watch Full Length Current & Classic NHL Games on Google Video

As a longtime Vancouver Canucks fan, I can vividly remember the 1994 Stanley Cup Game 7 where unfortunately, they lost the Cup to the New York Rangers. Now, thanks to Google Video, you can now watch classic NHL hockey games like that one as well as all the current NHL games on their new NHL Google Video section. These are all full length videos of each game and you can easily click on your favorite teams to check out the games that are currently available. Go Canucks!

Posted by Jennifer Slegg at 2:31 PM | Permalink

October 26, 2006

China.com To Run Google's Video Ads

Forbes reports that CDC Corps China.com will be running Google's click to play video ads on its English Channel service. Fang Donglei, COO of China.com said in a statement; "Google's click-to-play video ads and China.com English Channel, working together, represent a significant opportunity in servicing the needs of the foreign community in China."

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:04 AM | Permalink

October 19, 2006

Searching Via Internet Explorer 7 & The Battle To Be The Default Search Engine

Now that Internet Explorer 7 has been released in final format, I wanted to look at how search is being handled within the browser. There's been lots of discussion and worries about this in the past. Speculation time is over; reality is here. In this article, how the IE7 search box works, how you can change it and how Google and Yahoo's toolbars behave within it to try and maintain their default status, once gained.

The biggest difference with Internet Explorer 7 is the one that's been most discussed, a visible search box built into the "chrome." In the picture below, you can see the search box, complete with the word "Google" in light text to remind me what search engine is my default.

(NOTE: I've used a lot of screenshots, drawing off my Flickr account and picked a day when Flickr has became sluggish after I wrote this. Apologies if the pictures don't show when you view the page. Try reloading or checking back).

Google is my default search engine because it was that way in Internet Explorer 6. It became my default there with my permission, when I installed the Google Toolbar on my laptop (where I did today's testing) ages ago.

I removed the Google Toolbar for the purposes of testing IE7. That didn't cause the IE6 default settings to change, and to Microsoft's credit, they didn't try to override it when I upgraded to IE7.

Microsoft had previously said that if it detected a particular search engine was set to be a default, it would respect that. So, IE7 did -- sort of. Notice however what comes up in the main window of Internet Explorer 7 when I relaunched it:

Here, I'm notified that Google's my default, and I'm asked to confirm this or make another choice. Overall, I think that's fine. Yes, it's Microsoft hoping to change some minds. Maybe "Keep my current default search provider" should be ticked already. But I'd say most people who have Google as their default now will confirm keeping it that way. It's hardly anti-competitive.

Google, in particular, has disagreed. On a new machine, where Google has no presence or partnership, Microsoft Live Search will be the default. Google had suggested that users should be explicitly asked to make a choice from one of several providers. In my past article about this, I wrote about not being sympathetic to that idea, given that Google has had no problem paying to override consumer choice to gain the default position through deals with Firefox or through Dell installations.

Since then, deals have only accelerated. Yahoo partnered with Acer and also with HP. Google cut a deal with Adobe. It's difficult to know how a consumer is going to buy a "virgin" machine where the defaults haven't already been decided or influenced by some business deal.

Given this, let's focus on how consumers can make their choices after the fact. That's pretty easy. From that opening screen that IE gives after installation, tick the "Let me select from a list of other search providers" option and then choose Save Settings at the bottom of the page.

That will brings up this page (other pages might come up for other language/country configurations):

Very fairly, Microsoft isn't positioning themselves at the top of the list or more prominently than others. In fact, I think Microsoft is making a terrible mistake by just saying "Live Search" rather than "Microsoft Live Search." I think relatively few people know the Live brand right now. I can well imagine some people thinking, "Live Search -- what's that?" and skipping the search engine from consideration.

I selected Live Search from the list. That made a pop-up box appear:

Notice the option to make the choice as my default is NOT ticked. This allows you to add several search engines to the search box, which you can then selectively use while still maintaining your default search engine. You can add a bunch of different providers, and I'll come back to this more below.

It's worth noting that the Search Provider page links to information about the OpenSearch system, a way for anyone to easily create search engines that can be added to IE7. Of course, that doesn't mean you get added to the all-important Search Provider page. It just means someone visiting your site might be able to use a button that you promote to them to change their IE7 settings.

That Search Provider page also has an interesting box allowing you to visit any search engine, then do a copy-and-paste action to make your own search box. It's very clever. You simply search for TEST on anything that gives you a search box. Copy-and-paste the resulting URL, and IE7 will automatically create the right way to access that search engine for you. I added Search Engine Watch as a search engine to my IE7 installation easily by doing this.

In the example above, I didn't change my default search provider. Now let's say I want to, perhaps some time after I've initially installed IE7. Google has previous spun the idea of changing settings in IE7 as some complicated task. It even cited research saying only one third of users could figure it out. I have more faith that people can do it, so let's go through the steps.

1. Click the Tools button in IE7's menu, then pick Internet Options  
2. On the General tab of the Internet Options window that appears, there's a Search area. Click on the Settings button here.  
3. That brings up a Change Search Defaults menu: (FYI, I wish the "Find more providers" link was much more visible here. If you didn't pick more providers from when IE was initially installed, you won't have any choices in the main selection area -- and you might miss that link. This is handled in a better way through an alternative method I'll cover below).  
4. Choose the search engine you want, push the Set Default button, then OK. Now you're done.

Well, not necessarily. After I did this, Google was shown as my choice within the search box in the chrome. Evil Google! No, it seems more an IE thing. When I closed and restarted IE7, the default was changed to Live Search.

Let's go back to that search box in the chrome. Obviously, you can use it to search. Enter some words, hit return or click the magnifying glass icon/button, and the browser will pull back results from your default search engine.

The box also allows you to temporarily or permanently change your default search provider. Next to the box, use the down-arrow to get a drop-down menu like this:

From it, any search engine you've added to your providers list is shown. You can see how several providers I've selected are added, including the custom choice I made for Search Engine Watch.

Choose a provider, and then your search will go to that provider for that particular search, similar to how the box in Firefox works. It stays this way until you change it back or until you close IE7 entirely.

Look at the bottom of the menu. The drop-down box lets you get to the IE7 search providers page or bring up the Change Search Defaults box I showed in step 3 above. That makes changing providers a two step process.

Next up, I wanted to see how the search engines competing with Microsoft were reacting to a freshly minted copy of IE7 showing up at their doorsteps. Would I get prompts to change, as we've seen in the past from both Google and Yahoo?

Google and Yahoo surprisingly did nothing. I wonder if this might because the final release of IE7 has made some type of browser agent change that the two have set to identify. We'll see. Meanwhile, Ask gave me this box enticing me to change:

Next up, time to deal with concerns that Google might be too aggressive in protecting itself once installed as the default via the Google Toolbar. I loaded up a fresh copy. In short order, Google asked me if I wanted to make it both my default search provider and notify me if something tries to change that:

To help avoid controversy, Google ought to make these separate options. But from a usability perspective, I can well understand the logic of making then a single choice. If I want Google to be my default, I probably don't want something to try and change that behind my back -- and many have had bad experiences with adware and spyware doing exactly that.

I told it Google fine, then I was surprised that the next screen made me decide whether to have PageRank display enabled or not.

In the past, I recall this as an option you were never prompted to enable. Instead, I recall it as something that search engine optimization folks (about the only ones who care) would enable by diving into the advanced options and switching it on.

I could be wrong in my recollection. If so, my apologies. But even with Google's clear "in your face" warning that enabling PageRank will send data to them, I still wonder if perhaps the screen should be different.

Maybe PageRank display should be disabled by default, rather than making you choose. The screen that appears would then ask explicitly if you wanted to change to enabled. It would explain what it provides to the user (the screen itself tells you nothing, not even a short description such as here). It would then warn, as it does now, that enabling the feature allows Google to see every page you are visiting.

All installed, Google gives me a big notice to let me know I'm ready to go with the toolbar:

I then tried to change search providers using the steps above. That seemed to work, but then I got this small notification in my task bar, along with an audible signal:

My task bar is at the top of the screen (where it belongs, in my opinion!). By default, the task bar is at the bottom of Windows machines by default, so the notification could be less noticeable there. The sound helps, but frankly I don't know why this was blocked at all.

There's a big difference between spyware changing your default setting and users themselves trying to change the default using the options within Internet Explorer. Google ought to be able to distinguish the two. Changes made by a user shouldn't be blocked. Moreover, any blocking ought to ask me for confirmation that it's going to happen, not just be done on my behalf.

In other words, consider this. I'd consented for Google to notify me if something was trying to change my default settings, as shown on that earlier screenshot. I did not consent to it doing the blocking on my behalf, which is what it did. It would have been far better if Google had produced some type of pop-up box telling me that something wanted to change my defaults and asking me if I wanted to allow this. Leave the choice with me.

I'll follow-up with Google about this. Meanwhile, what to do if you want to override the decision Google made for you? When that notification happens, you have to click on the little G button in your task bar (if the notification is gone, try changing again to make it come back). Clicking on the G brings up a box like this:

That box is what I think Google should actually show you, rather than processing it behind the scenes unless you manually make it appear. It tells you something wants to change your default, asks if you want to allow that to happen and lets you override what Google wants to do, remain the default, if that's your decision.

If you override, that should disable Google from doing any future monitoring, as it tells you will be the case:

That's what I found to happen. In fact, I see no signs that Google is still monitoring despite being told not to. That's what happened in July, when the GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe program continued to run. Google said this was a bug, which got some dubious laughs in some quarters. Bug or not, I certainly don't see it happening now.

To further test it, I went back to Ask.com and let it make it my default search provider. That worked fine.

Once you've disabled monitoring, what if you want it back? Use the Settings menu of the Google Toolbar, then on the More tab, you'll see two options:

The two different options intrigued me. What was the difference between:

• Set and keep Search settings to Google
  • Notify me on settings change

I enabled only the first. Bad, bad choice. If you do this, you simply cannot change your settings at all unless you go back into the Google Toolbar and override the option. Google will silently keep any settings from being altered. If you enable them both, then you get back to the behavior where at least Google will give you a notification.

Overall, here's what I'd like to see. The Google Toolbar should ask if you want to be notified about changes. If something tries to make a change, it should then ask you for explicit permission whether to override this, at least the first time -- perhaps it gives you an option to let Google handle these changes without notifications behind the scenes after that. But yes -- get in the users face more about what you're going to change initially, so they know what's going on.

Having played with Google, I next loaded up the Yahoo Toolbar. Ugh, not fun. First, Yahoo by default wants to cram Norton Spyware scan down your throat. Yes, right under the big Download Yahoo! Toolbar button in smaller text is an option to get just the toolbar without it. I'd rather see that option get equal play.

After the installation, like Google, Yahoo stands ready to be both my default search engine and help me get back to Yahoo if something changes my default settings:

Like Google, Yahoo makes it clear you've got the toolbar with this big pop-up window:

Decide to personalize the toolbar, as Yahoo suggests? To do that, you've got to have a Yahoo account. That means the toolbar does more than drive searches for Yahoo. Unlike Google, Yahoo's trying to generate user registrations, as well. The toolbar works without registration, of course -- but it no doubt encourages some people to sign up.

I manually changed my default provider from Yahoo to Google, using the steps above. Yahoo didn't block this. But when I closed the browser and relaunched it, I got this:

Fair enough. Unlike Google, Yahoo didn't silently switch itself back. It asked me to make that choice. It was also a one time thing. I told it to allow the change, then closed my browser and reopened it. Yahoo didn't come back and try to get me to switch back to Yahoo again.

Actually, I wouldn't have minded that. I find it very helpful that Firefox or Internet Explorer will keep asking me if I want them as a default unless I explicitly use the offered tick box not to be asked again. That's because it's easy to accidentally hit the wrong button. It's harder to both hit the wrong button and enable a tick box.

All this effort by the toolbars to maintain default status comes off the fear that the IE7 search box is going to somehow gain Microsoft tons of search traffic. I've been pessimistic about this actually happening. I've noted for ages that despite Microsoft long having hooks into IE for its own search, Google and Yahoo have both survived and thrived. My Google Worried About Microsoft's Browser Advantage? What Advantage? article goes into much more depth about this.

It's uncertain to me that the search box in the "chrome" is going to make that much of a difference, but I haven't seen much user behavior data here. I could be completely wrong, and Microsoft's competitors are certainly worried about it. We'll know in short order. IE7 is being rolled out in a mandatory fashion to Windows users beginning November 1 through the Windows update system. If Microsoft's search share rises, the chrome search box may be working.

However, I think many people will still fire up their browser and go back to the search engines they regularly use. Google and Yahoo might not have the enticements to switchover today up, but those will come. And I think those will help them to largely preserve their shares despite the IE7 rollout.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:16 AM | Permalink

October 13, 2006

Time Warner: YouTube Copyright Negotiations To Be "Kicked Up" To Google

Google faces copyright fight over YouTube from The Guardian cover how chair and CEO of Time Warner Dick Parsons said his company plans to go after YouTube for copyright violations. It's still talk rather than legal actions:

Mr Parsons told the Guardian: "You can assume we're in negotiations with YouTube and that those negotiations will be kicked up to the Google level in the hope that we can get to some acceptable position."

I'm sure it will get kicked up. And it shouldn't be hard to get the right people connected given that the AOL part of Time Warner already has an existing distribution deal with Google. Of course, if that fails, it should be interesting to see if Time Warner sues a copy that has a five percent ownership stake in AOL. Related coverage and commentary can be found via Techmeme, here.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:35 AM | Permalink

October 12, 2006

University of Wisconsin-Madison Joins Google Book Search Project

University of Wisconsin-Madison is the next university to join Google's Book Search Project. The University has one of the largest collections of historical documents and books in the US, accounting for about 7.2 million holdings. The University houses the famous Wisconsin Historical Society Library which is also part of this project. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has their release here and Google has their release here and Reuters has their article here.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:35 AM | Permalink

October 11, 2006

MySpace Threatens YouTube After Google's Buyout

A Wall Street Journal article shows how the folks over at News Corp., the owners of MySpace.com, have threatened to cut "off the MySpace links to YouTube" because YouTube didn't respond to News Corp's email request to have an "opportunity to participate in the sale process." Google with YouTube and News Corp. with MySpace are to meet this week in LA to "discuss new ways of working together." The Wall Street Journal explains that News Corp. is threatened by the acquisition of YouTube by Google, making YouTube a much more powerful competitor to the MySpace property.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:44 AM | Permalink

October 6, 2006

Google Print Helping Book Sales

Despite a skeptical publishing community some publishers are seeing increased sales from Google's book scanning project. Reuters quotes several publishers as seeing increased sales. And here are the top 10 books on Google Book Search.

Posted by Greg Sterling at 11:59 AM | Permalink

October 4, 2006

The Google Literacy Project

Reuters reports that Google, in conjunction with LitCam and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning, has formed The Literacy Project. The site, hosted at Google.com, brings together Google Book Search, Google Scholar, Google Video, Google Maps, Blogger, and Groups into one landing page. The site was launched at the Frankfurt Book Fair with hopes to combat global illiteracy. Nikesh Arora, vice president of Google's European operations said, "Google's business was born out of a desire to help people find information."

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:31 AM | Permalink

September 27, 2006

Google Talks On Its Approach To Content & Copyright

Our approach to content at the Official Google Blog has Google explaining to the world how it works with content owners and its desire to respect their rights.

In terms of copyright, Google stresses that it generally sticks to what's known as fair use, though the post doesn't use those words. The idea is that it shows very short summaries of stories, pages, thumbnails of images but doesn't reprint this material, requiring people to clickthrough to the actual material from places like Google News.

Of course, in the case of cached pages, many including myself would argue that Google goes beyond fair use. Cached pages are an example where content can be viewed without clicking through to the original site, and the opt-out approach for that doesn't feel appropriate at all.

Google also notes there are cases when it wants to go beyond fair use, to make broader use of content where permission would be required. The deal with the Associated Press is cited as one of several examples here.

To me, this is also a way for Google to help defuse the idea that some publications have, such as the Belgian newspapers recently, that Google can be bought off to avoid lawsuits. To me, this is Google stressing that it will do content deals in some cases, but that these content deals aren't necessarily being done to avoid lawsuits, especially when it feels it is acting within fair use guidelines. That's my speculation and take on this, of course. Google didn't comment when I asked if this was the reason for raising the AP deals.

Moving past Google saying it respects copyright, it then stresses that it allows people to opt-out, even if it feels it has fair use rights. In general, I agree with this method, which Google along with the other major search engines generally follow. Trying to get permission from each web site to index it would be an impossible task, and one that's not necessarily even legally required. Opt-out through things like robots.txt is an effective way to protect rights holders plus benefit the public as a whole. I do hope they'll change cached pages to opt-in, however.

Google talked with me about the post shortly before it went live yesterday, to see if I had any questions. The main thing in my mind was if this was in response to the Belgian lawsuit. No, I was told. The post has been in the works for some time, apparently. Google's hoping it will help people better understand their approach to content.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:56 AM | Permalink

September 26, 2006

First Non English University To Join Google Book Search Project

Reuters reports that The Complutense University of Madrid, a Spanish university, is to join the Google Book Search scan project as the first library to join in a "non-English-speaking country." The Complutense University's library is the second largest in the country, with 3 million works.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:17 AM | Permalink

September 22, 2006

Google & Saturn Team Up On Video Ads, Google Earth Promotion

Marketing on Google: It's Not Just Text Anymore from the New York Times covers how Google is partnering with a traditional ad company to do an integrated campaign for General Motors, one that begins today to promote the Saturn brand in Google Earth, video ads through Google AdSense For Content and other unnamed Google products (fair to say, those old school text ads will be part of it).

Meanwhile, Cameron Othuis points out how BMW is letting opportunities slip by in by overlooking paid ads. Similarly, last month, Steve Plunkett dropped me an email where he was amazed that Pontiac was running those TV ads we've mentioned before about Googling them in his area but without paying more attention to the organic results.

To prove his point, he created a page to rank well for pontiac dealers dallas-ft.worth at Google, which now ranks first. Of course, that's a lot of words, making it easier to rank. A search on pontiac dallas doesn't list him, though pontiac dealers dallas does. While perhaps Pontiac could do more on the organic side, they aren't complete invisible -- and that big fat paid link at the top saying "The Official Pontiac Site" is pretty noticeable.

Postscript: See Google / Saturn Video Ad for an example of the landing page for the ads

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 6:58 AM | Permalink

September 19, 2006

Google & Apple To Do Content, Ad Deals?

Google and Apple in iTV content talks from The Register covers how Google (according to Newsweek) may be providing video clips for Apple's "iTV," announced at last week's Apple developers conference. Meanwhile, Apple is about to break big into ad sales from Valleywag covers a rumor ad partnership between Apple and Google. Valleywag says Apple will soon carry Google ads on its web sites and within iTunes. I guess Google's CEO joining the Apple board does make the two companies more friendly. Google will be providing video content to Apple and plus help Apple monetize their products and content with Google Ads - wow!

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:30 AM | Permalink

September 13, 2006

Intuit & Google Announce Major Local Search Marketing Partnership

In a development with potentially sweeping implications for local search and small business online marketing, Intuit has announced a partnership with Google that integrates AdWords campaign management and other Google-related features directly into the workflow of QuickBooks, the company's bestselling software package for small business. QuickBooks has 3.7 million active small business customers. A similar set of capabilities is contemplated for a future release of Intuit's other bestselling software program Quicken.

Simultaneously Intuit announced the acquisition of SME marketing firm StepUp. (Reuters is reporting that the acquisition price was $60 million.) StepUp has been doing for local retailers what local SEM/SEO firms like LocalLaunch, WebVisible and ReachLocal are doing (with partners) for local service businesses – helping them establish a web presence and pushing their listings and content out to consumer destinations where they could be found online. (I'll go into this aspect of the deal and its significance below.)

The Intuit-Google partnership and the QuickBooks implementation were quickly put together for the 2007 release of QuickBooks, which hits the shelves later this month. Both companies see their relationship as a long-term partnership with significant mutual benefits. Intuit CEO Steve Bennett and Google CEO Eric Schmidt are holding a conference call later today to explain the relationship in further detail.

Here are the details of the QuickBooks integration as I understand them:

AdWords Starter Edition Integration: Small businesses using QuickBooks will have the ability to sign up for AdWords and manage their campaigns directly within the QuickBooks workflow environment. They won't need to go to Google to do so; Google will receive a feed directly from within QuickBooks. As an incentive to advertise, new AdWords users will receive a $50 discount. Beyond FAQs and standard information about AdWords, right now there doesn't appear to be any "hand holding" or other special support. However I was told that additional features and support would come in future implementations. Intuit told me that they would be helping Google better understand and meet the needs of small business advertisers. One-Click Listing on Google Maps: SME data contained within QuickBooks will pre-populate a set of fields to help SMEs upload their contact information and other details, which they have the ability to edit, in what amounts to one click to Google Maps. They will be enticed to do so with a message along these lines: "Get your business listed on Google for free." Inventory/Product Feed to Google: StepUp has been working with Google to provide local retailer inventory information to Froogle. StepUp has about 5,000 small business customers. Being acquired by Intuit and integrated into QuickBooks will give the company overnight access to literally millions of small retailers and their inventory data. About half of QuickBooks' 3.7 million customers use the software for inventory management.

StepUp's application is similarly integrated into the new, 2007 version of QuickBooks. What this enables is a product/inventory data feed directly to Google/Froogle. As part of the install process of QuickBooks 2007 retailers will be given the option to list all their products on Google.

StepUp works with other distributors (e.g., SuperPages) and intends to continue doing so. "Our mission is to help retailers be found wherever consumers are," StepUp CEO Kendall Fargo told me in response to my question about whether the Intuit acquisition and Intuit-Google partnership would mean any changes in the company's roadmap or objectives. Beyond the additional reach this gives them, he said "no" and also expressed a desire to work with other partners (e.g., MSN, Yahoo!, etc.)

Google Desktop Integration: Finally the Google Desktop search application is being integrated into QuickBooks so that users can search their computers and the data in QuickBooks with the Google Desktop client.

Implications re Small Business Advertisers:

Google has been working directly and indirectly with channel partners to acquire small business advertisers. Many of those partners are yellow pages publishers. But consider that the U.S. yellow pages industry has approximately 3.2 million advertisers in total. As mentioned, QuickBooks has 3.7 million active users and Quicken another 3 million (not all of whom are small businesses obviously). But you get the idea: Instantly Google gets access – through a trusted third party (Intuit) -- to a huge installed base of potential advertisers.

The direct integration of AdWords into the QuickBooks workflow may not be as effective as a local sales rep. knocking on a door or making a phone call, but it gets close and it's considerably more efficient in many respects. And, as mentioned, Intuit will be helping Google to make AdWords more "SME friendly" going forward.

This is a privileged position with a massive SME aggregator that currently Google's competitors don't enjoy on a comparable scale.

Implications re the Consumer Experience:

The StepUp facilitated product inventory information, which will likely be more complete and accurate than almost anything else in the market, will make Froogle (or whatever it eventually becomes) a differentiated source of local product information ("Where can I buy it today?"). Intuit/StepUp has said it will work and hopes to work with others in providing this same information. So Froogle's competitors could potentially benefit from this feed if they build the required APIs.

The Google Maps integration will similarly provide (assuming that merchants opt for this) lots of accurate local content that otherwise wouldn't be available or might be outdated.

Of course it remains to be seen how all this plays out, but this is a major win for Google and a big value-add for Intuit in its relationship with small businesses.

Posted by Greg Sterling at 2:59 PM | Permalink

Google Earth Adds Featured Content Partners

Google just announced that they launched new featured content on Google Earth from the United Nations Environmental Program, Discovery Networks World Tour, US National Park Service, Jane Goodall Institute and Turn Here. To access this information, open Google Earth, click on the "Featured Content" checkbox in the sidebar. By doing that, "icons for each Featured Content provider will span the globe, enabling users to click on individual locations and learn about the area's significance."

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:16 AM | Permalink

August 30, 2006

Google CEO Eric Schmidt Joins Apple's Board Of Directors

Google CEO Eric Schmidt's looking for another small company to help run -- this time, Apple. He's just been elected to Apple's board of directors.

Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple's Board of Directors is the press release on the move, with these quotes from the two main men:

"Eric is obviously doing a terrific job as CEO of Google, and we look forward to his contributions as a member of Apple's board of directors," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Like Apple, Google is very focused on innovation and we think Eric's insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead."

"Apple is one of the companies in the world that I most admire," said Eric Schmidt. "I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple's board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing."

Google CEO elected to Apple Computer board of directors from the AFP has the expected (and reasonable) speculation that this will mean closer ties for Google and Apple.

The Wall Street Journal in Google CEO Schmidt Joins Apple Computer Board (paid sub. probably required) notes some of the cross-pollination going on:

Mr. Schmidt's election deepens existing high-level personal ties between the two companies. Genentech Inc. CEO Arthur Levinson sits on the Google and Apple boards, while former Vice President Al Gore and Intuit Inc. Chairman Bill Campbell, both Apple directors, are longtime advisers to Google. Mr. Schmidt's appointment means half of Apple's eight-person board of directors has a formal relationship with Google.

Messrs. Schmidt and Jobs also share the battle scars from long careers competing against Microsoft, Redmond, Wash. Mr. Schmidt, one of Silicon Valley's most seasoned technologists, spent more than a dozen years at Sun Microsystems Inc. starting in 1983, rising to the post of chief technology officer during that computer maker's fierce efforts to establish the Java programming language as an alternative to Microsoft's dominant programming standards. Mr. Schmidt joined Novell Inc., a bitter Microsoft rival in the market for network software, in 1997 as chairman and CEO.

Want to comment or discuss? Join our Search Engine Watch Forums thread, Google CEO Eric Schmidt Joins Apple's Board.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:32 AM | Permalink

August 28, 2006

eBay Signs International Paid Search Deal With Google

The Wall Street Journal reports that eBay has reached a deal with Google to offer up paid search ads "on eBay's auction web sites outside the U.S." The multiyear deal is to begin in early 2007 and should include Click to Call features in some of the ads. In late May, we reported that eBay and Yahoo signed a deal, where Yahoo would be eBay's "exclusive provider of graphical ads and Yahoo will promote eBay's PayPal to its merchants and publishers."

Postscript: See also Greg Sterling's update on the click to call component, EBay-Google PPCall Deal: More Than Meets The Eye

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:32 AM | Permalink

August 23, 2006

Google's Dominance Of Big & Small Companies

Fortune has a nice write up they named "How Google can make - or break - your company." Not only does this article go over how Google can break a small online retailer who depends on organic results, but also how they can break large firms like travel agencies, newspapers, realtors, advertising firms and software makers (even Microsoft). The article makes a good read if you have the time. If you have more time, also read Google Sees Content Deals As Key to Long-Term Growth at the Wall Street Journal, which explores more of Google's future and how you may be a part of it.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:27 AM | Permalink

August 10, 2006

Google Pays AOL $400M In Ad Deal

Bloomberg reports that Google will be paying AOL up to $400 million in an ad deal. The report says "Google will make as much as $100 million in co-marketing payments and give AOL up to $300 million in advertising credits over the life of the agreement." More details at Bloomberg.com.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 11:11 AM | Permalink

August 9, 2006

Google Talk & Sony Partner With Mylo Device

The Google Talkabout blog announced that the new Sony Mylo device will support Google Talk features such as Google Talk IM support, see who's online and available, manage your contacts, hold multiple chat conversations at once, plus some Gmail features. This is not big news, but when you see your kids running around with Mylos this September, they may think you are cool if you ask them to add you as a Google Talk buddy.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:43 AM | Permalink

August 7, 2006

Google & MySpace In $900 Million Deal On Search & Contextual Ads

Just in, an announcement that Google and MySpace have reached a deal for Google to provide search and contextual ads to MySpace, in return for giving MySpace (well, the entire Fox  Interactive Media network) $900 million in guaranteed payments through 2010. From the press release:

MOUNTAIN VIEW and LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 7, 2006 - News Corporation's Fox Interactive Media and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced a multi-year search technology and services agreement whereby Google will be the exclusive search and keyword targeted advertising sales provider for Fox Interactive Media's growing network of web properties including MySpace.com (http://www.myspace.com).

The agreement calls for Google to power web, vertical and site specific search for MySpace.com and the majority of Fox Interactive Media properties. Google will be the exclusive provider of text-based advertising and keyword targeted ads through its AdSense program, for inventory on Fox Interactive Media's network. Google will also have a right of first refusal on display advertising sold through third parties on Fox Interactive Media's network.

The integration of Google's services including consistent search navigation across Fox Interactive Media's network of properties is slated to begin in the fourth quarter 2006 and will provide users with access to Google's industry leading search capabilities as well as text and display advertising from its global advertiser base.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google will be obligated to make guaranteed minimum revenue share payments to Fox Interactive Media of $900 million based on Fox achieving certain traffic and other commitments. These guaranteed minimum revenue share payments are expected to be made over the period beginning in the first quarter of 2007 and ending in the second quarter of 2010.

I'm at our Search Engine Strategies show in San Jose at the moment, so I don't have time to do a long post on the news, which I'm still digesting. I've taken a number of phone calls on it already, so I'll provided what I've given to some other reporters who have asked.

• Big win for Google? Sure. Lots of traditional players are worried about MySpace, even if the site itself isn't earning that much now, from what I understand. This gets Google in, keeps Yahoo and Microsoft out, and might be a cheap payment to protect Google's front in the social networking wars. In other words, even if Google doesn't make a net profit off of MySpace, the intangibles could be worth the cost. The closer ties also give Google deeper insight into the MySpace traffic, since it will soon see everyone going to these pages. That will be very helpful for Google if it wants to do a renewed social networking effort of its own.  
• Big loss for Microsoft and Yahoo? Maybe, maybe not. If social networking is hot, both of them -- unlike Google -- have very healthy communities in several international markets. In fact, that potentially could have been an issue in trying to win MySpace. Revenue-wise, Yahoo indirectly provides ads to MySpace, but current revenue doesn't appear to be substantial, plus Yahoo already would have been giving a big chunk of this to whomever is the unknown middleman.

John Battelle notes there's a conference call going on, plus he's working on some follow-ups, so keep an eye on his post. I or Barry will also postscript stories from elsewhere to our post here or do a fresh round-up tomorrow.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 5:47 PM | Permalink

Google & Viacom Partner In Video Ad Test

Via the NY Times, Google and Viacom have partnered to place Viacom video clips (MTV and other clips) on web site owner pages. The video clips will contain ads from Viacom, which Google and site owns will share the revenues from. These tests are to begin towards the end of the month. This is the first step, I bet, to AdWords on TV. Last week we reported that Google Radio is coming to XM Satellite Radio, so TV isn't so far fetched.

FYI - sorry for short posts, SES San Jose is today and coverage will be slow. Towards the end of the day, I will post headlines with stories we read but didn't have time to cover.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:39 AM | Permalink

August 2, 2006

Google-AP Deal Not Pay-Per-Click & Some Further Details

As it happens, I was at Google yesterday when the story came out about the financial agreement between Google and the Associated Press over the use of AP content. That story raised a number of questions, and here are some answers I can share so far from Google.

First, this is not a pay per click deal. Yesterday's Mercury News article talks about some agreements in general being this way:

It's a common perception, but it's false. Google and Yahoo, along with dozens of other Internet companies, have been quietly agreeing to deals that compensate some of the country's top news organizations for their content and help drive more traffic to their Web sites.

Recently completed deals, which include arrangements in which media organizations such as the Associated Press will be compensated on a pay-per-click basis, could herald a major shift in the relationship between the old media and new Internet gatekeepers.

The article doesn't say that the Google deal specifically is pay per click, but some people might wonder if that's the case. Google now clarifies that it is not.

Is this an agreement to keep Google from being sued by the AP, as it is by the AFP? Google wouldn't answer directly but said:

Google News is fully consistent with fair use and always has been.

Note that paidContent has reported how the AP only a few months ago said:

Let me say more clearly: we're not suing them.

So I tend to think it's safe to say this wasn't being driven out of legal fears.

What's the agreement cover? No more real details than you've already read before:

The license in this agreement provides for new uses of original AP content for features and products we will introduce in the future. We are very excited about the innovative new products we will build with full access to this content.

But note that this specifically talks about new uses -- not current uses. IE, I read this as Google saying again that what it has been doing to index AP content is not something it feels it needed an agreement to do.

Also this tidbit:

This is not the first time we've had a financial arrangement with a news organization.

Coincidentally, I'm at news search site Topix today, literally borrowing a conference room to do some email and blogging catch-up. I had a catch-up meeting with them earlier, and the issue of deals with the AP and newspapers in general came up.

Topix noted they signed an agreement with the AP earlier this year, which is part of an overall trend where they've seen news organizations eager to come up with new ways to work with news search sites.

Was this prompted by a legal fear? No. It was part of figuring out a way of dealing with syndicated news content that helps treat the AP's member publications fairly online.

AP stories can originate from one of thousands of member publications. Any of those thousands of member publications might also republish an AP story. Which story is the originating one? That's useful for a search engine to know, if you don't want your results to get overwhelmed by having duplicates of all the same content.

In terms of fairness, Topix uses the agreement to get a rich data feed of content from the AP (along with many other things). This helps them better understand if an AP story originated from a particular member publication and, if so, to link over to the publication that deserves the credit.

The agreement also allows Topix to put AP-originated national and international stories on its own site, rather than having to guess at which of many different news sites to point at.

For example, if the AP runs some international story that an AP reporter has written, how should Topix decide which newspaper to point at? Just pick some random newspaper that had nothing to do with creating it? And if so, what about registration or payment issues that might be in place at that random paper.

Hosting AP national and international stories helps solve this problem. Of course, hosting AP stories that come from the AP directly also means Topix -- and indirectly the AP -- can earn from ad revenue.

Understanding what Topix does with the AP shed sheds some light on possible Google motivations in working with the AP. Perhaps we'll see hosted stories as Topix is doing -- and as Yahoo also does -- for some of the reasons explained above. And perhaps the deal also is to give Google better news search capabilities as I've also outlined, something that's hard to do without a deeper relationship.

Postscript: Google, AP Disclose News Payment Deal from, ironically, the Associated Press suggests that a legal dispute was behind the deal. From the lead:

Google Inc. is paying The Associated Press for stories and photographs, settling a dispute with a major provider of the copyright news that the online search engine finds and displays on its popular Web site.

But further into the story, I don't see anything explicitly supporting that statement. There's this:

While AFP sued to protect its rights, the AP chose to negotiate terms with Google, which, after just seven years of existence, is nearly 10 times larger than the 160-year-old news cooperative in terms of revenue. The AP, a not-for-profit organization owned by U.S. news companies, had revenues of $654 million in 2005. Google, a publicly owned company, reported $6.1 billion in revenue last year and is on a pace to exceed $9 billion this year.

By agreeing to pay AP for content, Google falls in line with the owners of other popular news sites like Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL, which have been anteing up for years.

"We are happy to be dealing with Google as we are with all the major superpowers on the Internet," Seagrave [Jane Seagrave, the AP's vice president of new media markets] .said. "We are always looking for new ways to innovate."

But there's no one from the AP explicitly attributed in the story as saying that the AP was going to sue unless this agreement was reached. Still, I know the story author Michael Liedtke well, and I can't see him saying there was a dispute unless someone was saying that was what this about. I assume that would have been Jane Seagrave.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:46 PM | Permalink

Google Signs Deal With XM Radios To Distribute Ads In Satellite Radio Spots

Reuters reports that Google is in an ad deal with XM Radio. The deal was reached today, which will allow Google's "advertisers to automatically insert ads on the radio company's nonmusic channels." They expect the functionality of this deal to come to AdWords customers in the 4th quarter of this year.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:49 AM | Permalink

August 1, 2006

Google Paying News Sites For Google News Syndication?

Philipp Lenssen has some details on Google paying some news sources, such as the Associated Press, for syndicating their content in Google News. Philipp initially posted the story based on a Mercury News article that was foggy on the details of such relationships. But then Philipp received a statement from Google that read:

Google has always believed that content providers and publishers should be fairly compensated for their work so they can continue producing high quality information. We are always working on new ways to help users find the information they are looking for, and our business agreement with the Associated Press is one example of that.

Now, it is hard to know what this exactly means. Is Google paying the AP for allowing them to crawl and include their content in the Google News index? Will Google be creating a news portal, similar to Yahoo News (Yahoo has long paid to host some news content, though the story suggests Yahoo might be doing more of this). It is still unclear. How does Google determine who to pay and how much to pay? Can you pay Google to be included in Google News? Very interesting discovery by Philipp and I look forward to understanding this in more detail soon.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:45 AM | Permalink

July 20, 2006

Lycos Powered By Windows Live & Retriever Directory

It's been a long time since I've looked at Lycos, given how far it has slipped in the search world. Someone asked me about it today, so I took a look -- and what's this at the bottom of the page? "Portions powered by Windows Live."

So hey, it looks like an unannounced Microsoft win. Not much of a win, in that Lycos doesn't have much traffic. And maybe it was announced, and I missed it. By the way, only the unpaid results come from Microsoft. Paid results come from Google -- unless Lycos is showing me Google results because it knows I'm in the UK and has a partnership on this side of the Atlantic. Those in the US potentially are seeing Microsoft adCenter listings.

Lycos also has a new Lycos Retriever directory that I hadn't heard about until seeing Martin Belam dissect it this week. In part 1 of his look, I'd say he's pretty underwhelmed by it.

He is intrigued that it is an attempt to scale through technology. But that just makes me think that Lycos perhaps dusted off the WiseWire technology it bought and deployed back in 1998 for its Lycos Community Guides. Those weren't a killer app for Lycos then. I kind of doubt doing a similar thing in the midst of Web 2.0 hype will help much now.

Meanwhile, part 2 of Martin's look basically asks if the new directory isn't just a scraper site designed to draw in search traffic from elsewhere. Perhaps. To be fair, some pages like this for Belarus use the meta noindex tag, which should keep them out of other search engines. The same thing is true for the blank page example Martin shows in his report. But other pages like this for Minsk have no such restrictions.

Postscript: Brian Ulicny sends me this:

I was one of the guys who worked on Lycos Retriever before Lycos got rid of its search staff (well, all but 2) in February. It is not based on WiseWire technology at all. The idea was to build an automated, self-updating Wikipedia. In any case, the idea was interesting, and it was a fun project to work on. I wrote a paper about it recently, which I can send if you like.

Some topics came out pretty well. For example, see e.g.

• King Kong (1933)
• Zoloft
• Public-Key Cryptography
• Lyme Disease
• Reggaeton

But we had quite a way to go before Retriever was all we'd hoped it would be. In any case, I'm sure we'll see more things like it in the future.

Cool -- and I'm asking Brian for a link to his paper, to add to the above. Meanwhile, Lycos also wrote to say that the Windows Live partnership was indeed an unannounced change and that:

Retriever is a beta project our search group launched several months ago. We will continue to capitalize on our assets with our Daum engineers in Korea, taking full advantage of Daum's knowledge and expertise, in continuing to build out the Retriever product and other search initiatives

Postscript Barry: If you would like to view the presentation and paper on this, Brian posted them at his blog. You can download the paper on Retriever and also the slides & presentation.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:40 AM | Permalink

June 28, 2006

Dell To Use Google Earth To Provide Enhanced Tech Support

The Detroit News reports that Dell is going to use Google Earth as a tool to enhanced their technical support services. The new tech support service, to be released today, is named "Platinum Plus." Platinum Plus subscribers will be given access to "Google Earth Pro to see in real-time how the Round Rock company is responding to technical support issues around the globe." Dell and Google have some recent past positive relationships this just adds to that list.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:54 AM | Permalink

June 22, 2006

Google Partners With Adobe For Toolbar Distribution In Shockwave, Other Product To Be Named

Both Adobe (PDF link) and Google have announced a new deal where Adobe will distribute the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer as part of Adobe Macromedia Shockwave Player downloads. That was supposed to begin yesterday, and bundling with other Adobe products will happen in the future.

Wait a minute? Weren't Yahoo and Adobe buddy-buddies? Yes -- a special version of the Yahoo Toolbar is built into the popular Adobe Acrobat Reader program, through a deal dating back to October 2004.

In January of this year, Google began distributing Adobe Reader as part of the Google Pack without the Yahoo Toolbar being part of it. Google told me (article for SEW members) then that the Adobe-Yahoo agreement only covered the distribution Adobe did.

So is the Yahoo-Adobe deal completely over? No. Reuters reports that Adobe says that will continue:

Adobe previously included Yahoo Inc.'s toolbar as an option with the Shockwave Player, Adobe spokeswoman Katie Juran said. Adobe still offers the Yahoo toolbar as an option for its Flash Player and Adobe Reader products, she said.

I just uninstalled Acrobat Reader and downloaded a fresh copy. I definitely see the Yahoo Toolbar as part of the latest installation.

As for the Abobe-Google deal, the bundling with Google Pack wasn't based on payment, Google told me at the time. This latest deal is a financial arrangement, though exactly how much money is changing hands is not disclosed.

As for the distribution, I downloaded Shockwave and got no prompt for the Google Toolbar to be added. Of course, I already had it in Internet Explorer, and that seems to be why I didn't get a separate install. The Shockwave FAQ suggests that you should see a separate install process and that this won't happen if you have the Google Toolbar already.

That FAQ also notes that the Yahoo Toolbar, previously bundled with Shockwave, has now been dropped. In addition, it says that that third parties that distribute Shockwave do not have to bundle the Google Toolbar with those distributions.

The Google Blog post also says:

Starting today, Adobe is offering the Google Toolbar to its customers as a free download -- a great way to take Google search with you anywhere on the web.

So far, that seems to be true within Shockwave. But it's also a bit overstated. The Google Toolbar on its own is not offered anywhere on the Adobe products page, nor does a search for "google toolbar" flag any page for those who just want the toolbar on its own

The best, most specific information is part of the Shockwave FAQ that I've mentioned. There is at least a direct link to the Google Toolbar download page. But that's much different that the idea the Google Blog suggests, that people visiting Adobe might be getting a pitch for the Google Toolbar on its own. Not yet, not so far.

Postscript Barry:

I was sent a screen capture of this in action, you can view the screen capture at tcal.net.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 6:48 AM | Permalink

May 26, 2006

AOL Video Gets Google Video Promotion

Way back when Google and AOL cut their partnership deal, AOL was to get promotion on Google Video. What, big flashing neon AOL banners? Actually, Google said it would be low-key. And that's pretty much what's been delivered. Gary Price noted earlier this week that a small AOL Video link had been added to the reverse bar of the Featured section of Google Video. Look over there on the right-hand side. You can't -- well, you can -- miss it.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 11:20 AM | Permalink

May 25, 2006

Google & Dell Partner: Google Software To Be Installed On Dell PCs

The Wall Street Journal reports that Dell will be installing Google software on "millions of Dell personal computers." That means software like Google Desktop search, the Google Toolbar, and the default search engine will be set to Google on these Dell PCs. Google is paying Dell an undisclosed amount for this partnership.

This is kind of funny, after Google making a big stink over IE7 defaulting to MSN Search. Microsoft uses the OS to compete, Yahoo teams up with eBay and Google now partners with Dell.

Postscript From Danny: Dell embraces Google from News.com has comments from Google out of an investors conference about the deal. And in light Google's complaints about IE7 not allowing choice, this quote from Dell doesn't really ring true:

Our motivation is to deliver customers tools that enable them to search and organize information quickly and easily, right out of the box...Dell customers will have the option of choosing Microsoft as their default if they prefer.

Yep -- they just have to change the defaults in IE7, right? Except Google's argued that those defaults are too hard for mere mortals to alter. So consumers really have as much choice with the Dell deal as they have with IE7 -- that is, as much or as little choice as you think they are technically capable of.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 2:31 PM | Permalink

May 23, 2006

MySpace In Partnership Talks With Google & Microsoft

The Financial Times reports that MySpace, the huge social networking site, is in talks with Google and Microsoft over partnership opportunities to better monetize MySpace with contextual and search ads. MySpace, that has "nearly 80m registered users", is seeking a search company, like Google or Microsoft to "supply internet searches on its pages, along with adverts tied to results." The Financial Times says that Yahoo is "less interested," possibly because they have their own consumer generated content going on there. This deal can be huge for both Google and Microsoft, and also MySpace.

Postscript From Danny: Oddly, the story doesn't mention that Yahoo is the current provider of search results to MySpace -- which suggests that the lack of interest might be based on an existing bad experience with conversion over there

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:50 AM | Permalink

May 18, 2006

KDDI, Japan Mobile Phones, Signs Deal With Google To Provide Mobile Search

Gary Price spots that KDDI, a Japanese mobile operator, has signed a deal with Google to provide mobile search for au phones. The service is to begin as early as July 2006, and will enable not only mobile searches, but also be enhanced to provide search enabled services aimed at PCs.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:27 AM | Permalink

Google In Talks With China Mobile

BusinessWeek.com reports that Google and China Mobile are in talks about developing an Internet search engine for mobile devices in China. Wang Jianzhou, the chairman and chief executive of China Mobile (Hong Kong) told Business Week, "I recently met with Google's CEO for the second time. And we both share the same idea: how to turn cell phones into a new kind of Internet search engine." China Mobile is China's largest mobile carrier and is looking for ways to increase revenue per user.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:17 AM | Permalink

May 12, 2006

Microsoft Fires Back at Google Over IE7 Complaint

News.com reports that Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO, feels Google is asking for special treatment with the whole controversy on IE7 defaulting the search to MSN Search. Ballmer explains that if you configured IE to use Yahoo search, then when you upgrade to IE7, Yahoo will remain as the default. Only when you get a new computer, will the default search be MSN Search. Also, if you want to change that, the first option in the list is Ask.com, since the search engines are sorted alphabetically. More food for thought off Danny's last comment on this.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:34 AM | Permalink

May 3, 2006

Nearly 10 Percent Of Amazon Visitors Clicked Off To Google

Yesterday, I wrote about how Amazon had ended its relationship with Google and why not being in Amazon -- rather than Amazon-owned A9 -- was potentially the bigger issue for Google. Now in Google, Amazon and MSN, Bill Tancer over at Hitwise provides some stats detailing how Amazon, rather than A9, drove more "downstream" traffic to Google.

Bill's stats show how nearly 10 percent of all departures from Amazon went to Google, compared to only 2 percent of all departures from A9 going to Google. Also keep in mind that Amazon's traffic -- though not shown -- is certainly much larger than A9's traffic. Not only is the percentage larger, but the sheer volume of people is bigger too.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our SEW Forums thread, Amazon Ditches Google For Microsoft.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:14 AM | Permalink

May 2, 2006

Mazda's Google Earth Game

Philipp Lenssen points to Mazda EarthSearch sweepstakes game. You basically download a KML file that runs on Google Earth and follow the steps from there. The game shows you hints of historic landmarks, you use your search skills to locate the landmarks on Google Earth. So far they have two steps, where you locate two different landmarks. I located both and now I await an email for next week's continuation to the game.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 1:51 PM | Permalink

More On Amazon Dumping Google & Missing Paid Listings

Barry noted yesterday that Amazon's A9 was no longer carrying Google results. More important, this means that Amazon itself no longer carries Google's search results -- and in particular, Google's paid listings.

Google and Amazon partnered back in 2003 for Amazon to offer Google searches on the Amazon site. Google ads also were displayed there. I'm pretty sure at one point, the Google logo was on Amazon's home page, along with a search box. Unfortunately, the Internet Archive simply serves up pages from 2000 no matter what links I try from the years 2003 through 2005 to check on this.

Anyway, these days, there's a small A9 Web Search box in the upper right-hand corner of the Amazon site. Until last week, that box brought back A9 results that were powered by Google. Now they are powered by Microsoft's Windows Live Search.

Few people use A9 -- but many more use Amazon. How many did web searches at Amazon is unclear, but in either place, they are no longer seeing the paid listings that Google also used to provide.

In addition, I'm also pretty certain that an ordinary Amazon search (which lots and lots of people do) used to bring up Google paid listings as part of Amazon search results. Today, I don't see these at all. Over at Threadwatch, others report not seeing these either.

MSN syndicates Search to Amazon from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has more on the new Amazon-Microsoft agreement. The issue of who is providing paid listings isn't covered, but since the Amazon-Google agreement wasn't renewed, I'd assume these are to come from Microsoft.

Amazon Search Finds Microsoft from the Washington Post also has some details on the move, including the inspiring answer to whether Amazon felt Microsoft was providing better search results: "It will be up to users to try that out." So more a business move than a relevancy issue, fair to say :)

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our SEW Forums thread, Amazon Ditches Google For Microsoft.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our SEW Forums thread, Amazon Ditches Google For Microsoft.

Postscript: See also Nearly 10 Percent Of Amazon Visitors Clicked Off To Google.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:15 AM | Permalink

Google Worried About Microsoft's Browser Advantage? What Advantage?

I was off yesterday (it was a holiday in England), so I merrily missed the fireworks over Google's objections to Microsoft's plans for search in Internet Explorer 7. Nevertheless, a few calls from reporters penetrated my holiday bubble, and I added a brief note with my thoughts below Barry's post about the news. But today, I wanted to more formally revisit the issue. In short, I find Google's concerns pretty overblown, somewhat hypocritical and most important, worry over something that's not likely going to hurt them.

I am nauseatingly exhausted by idea that Microsoft will conjure up some magical method of yanking people into its MSN Windows Live Whatever You Want To Call It search service via the Windows operating system or the Internet Explorer browser. Microsoft has failed for years to be successful in this, which is why it's amazing anyone would still believe it.

In the longer version of this post for Search Engine Watch members, I revisit the tired facts in more depth:

• How search has been integrated into Windows and Internet Explorer since 1996 but failed to help Microsoft.  
• How even when MSN Search was made the default choice by 2001, Google still rose in traffic share.  
• How putting the search box into the "chrome" of the browser doesn't necessarily mean Microsoft will have a major win this time.  
• How search via toolbars still remain the minority of the way searches happen.

Meanwhile, skip past the business aspects. What about the consumer issue of choice? The New York Times writes of Google's preferred solution:

The best way to handle the search box, Google asserts, would be to give users a choice when they first start up Internet Explorer 7. It says that could be done by asking the user to either type in the name of their favorite search engine or choose from a handful of the most popular services, using a simple drop-down menu next to the search box. The Firefox and Opera browsers come with Google set as the default, but Ms. Mayer said Google would support unfettered choice on those as well.

Sure, I can get behind the "give people a choice from the beginning" idea. But if Google wants Microsoft to do that, then Google should make it happen right now in Firefox, which pretty much is Google's surrogate browser. If this is the best way for a browser to behave, then Google should be putting its weight on Firefox to make it happen. And Google should also ensure it does the same with Dell, where it has a partnership that I believe makes it the default search engine on new Dell computers.

It would be much easier to back Google's suggestions for IE7 if it was already doing this with its own partnerships. That's especially so given this latest article comes two months after the Wall Street Journal gave big play to Google's concerns with IE7. Back in February, the Journal wrote:

In December, for these and other reasons, Google refused to sign an agreement with Microsoft relating to the new browser's search capabilities. Microsoft left Google off the list of alternative search services. A month later, Microsoft notified Google it would be included on the list with or without a signed agreement, according to people familiar with the matter. Microsoft says after a review of its legal position, it realized it could include Google without a formal pact.

So Google's been concerned about choice for months. Nevertheless, it has failed to make any changes in Firefox, as I wrote after reviewing the Wall Street Journal article:

It's an odd argument, given that Google has not demanded that Firefox make consumers do similar choices in that browser. A partnership deal makes Google the default in Firefox, except for Asian-language versions where Yahoo cut its own deals.

In the end, I find it almost amazing that Google feels it needs to drop hints to the US Justice Department and the EU that it perhaps needs protection. In the search space, it's Google that remains the major player that many people feel may need to have a counter to. A list of the most popular search engines? Since those are largely US-dominated companies, I suspect the EU would want to change the playing field not to stop Microsoft but to hinder both Google and Microsoft. Is that a box Google really wants to open?

Finally, some second-day stories, that I've reviewed after writing the article above:

• Google supports choice...except on FireFox and Opera from Microsoft's Don Dodge raising the same issue I covered above, that Google has hardly demonstrated a support of choice in the way it demands of Microsoft.  
• Google's Double Standard from Yahoo's Jeremy Zawodny, again looking at Google's failure to support choice.  
• Google cries foul, but for what? from Ed Bott provides nice screenshots on how changing providers in IE7 is about the same as changing in Firefox with one exception - MSN Search is NOT an option in Firefox while Google IS an option in IE7. How about Google putting some pressure on Firefox to let Microsoft in the door. It is one of the web's major search engines. It ought to be on that list.  
• Google and choice from Nick Carr has the interesting suggestion that if Google's for choice, shouldn't the Google home page -- which gets far more users than any browser toolbar -- let users make a search choice? The idea gave me a chuckle, but I wouldn't agree. If you go to Google, you wanted Google. I don't buy into the idea you went there because you thought Google was just a synonym for search.  
• Microsoft and Google Set to Wage Arms Race from the New York Times follows on yesterday's article to look at the idea that in the war between Google and Microsoft (and Yahoo, but they don't get a mention), Google's hardly a scrappy underdog. In fact, it has people worried about it perhaps being a monopoly or too powerful. That's something that's been going on since 2002, as my Google: Can The Marcia Brady Of Search Stay Sweet? article from back then covers in more depth.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our Search Engine Watch Forums thread, Google Objects To Microsoft's IE7 Search Default Plans.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 9:09 AM | Permalink

May 1, 2006

Microsoft's IE 7 Serve Unfair Advantage Over Google & Yahoo?

Everyone is pointing to a NY Times article that claims Google is complaining to the Justice Department and the European Commission about Microsoft's new Internet Explorer 7. IE7 has set the default browser search engine to MSN Search, Google feels this puts Microsoft at an unfair advantage. Marissa Mayer is quoted as saying; "The market favors open choice for search, and companies should compete for users based on the quality of their search services." She adds, "We don't think it's right for Microsoft to just set the default to MSN. We believe users should choose." Microsoft replied to this saying that Google is correct, IE7 sets MSN Search as the default, but changing that setting is incredibly easy and can be done at any time.

The article also says "Microsoft insists it has no intention of deploying its browser as a weapon in the search wars." I have always thought Microsoft would use its browser as an asset in wining the search war. I even claimed that relevancy wouldn't play a part in which search engine gains the most market share in the future. Let me be clear, Danny Sullivan disagrees with me on this point. And this weekend, recent information showed that Danny may be right and I may be wrong. But if Google is that worried about IE7 and Microsoft, than maybe I will be right? Time will tell and I hope Danny follows up on this entry with his own thoughts.

Postscript From Danny: Just briefly, I've written before (and here and here) that despite having a browser tie-in for years, Microsoft has failed to maintain search marketshare. IE7 and Vista, in my view, will hardly be the killer tool in beating Google and Yahoo for Microsoft.

In some related articles, see Google Testing Software Distribution With Dell, Plus Details On IE7 Search Battle, which summarizes a Wall Street Journal article earlier this year on the ongoing fight/issues with search and Internet Explorer. The article itself is here: Pressuring Microsoft, PC Makers Team Up With Its Software Rivals. Also see Google-MSN Fight In Internet Explorer 7; Yahoo Pokes At Google In Firefox.

Postscript 2 From Danny: I've now posted some extended comments here: Google Worried About Microsoft's Browser Advantage? What Advantage?

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our Search Engine Watch Forums thread, Google Objects To Microsoft's IE7 Search Default Plans.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:29 AM | Permalink

Alexa & A9 Drop Google for Windows Live Search

Garrett French reports that both Alexa Amazon's A9 have switched from being powered by Google Search to Microsoft's Windows Live Search. When did this exactly happen? We are not sure. But it must have been recent. Why has there not been a lot of press on this? Again, I am not sure.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our SEW Forums thread, Amazon Ditches Google For Microsoft.

Postscript: See also our follow-up post: More On Amazon Dumping Google & Missing Paid Listings.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:44 AM | Permalink

April 27, 2006

Google Promotes First Non-Google Product On Homepage - Firefox

There has been tons of buzz in the blogosphere about Google promoting Firefox on the Google.com homepage. News.com has a quick write up on it, that links to screen capture of what was promoted. I personally do not think this is a big deal. We know Google and Firefox have always had positive relations and we can see how Google is primary promoting the Google Toolbar for Firefox. They even pay you a dollar for each person you refer to download Firefox.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:48 AM | Permalink

April 13, 2006

Baidu & Intel Partner On Search Apps

Last month, Google was reported as switching from Intel to AMD chips for its servers. Today, Intel China and Google's big China rival Baidu have announced their own partnership, one to cooperate on search applications for PCs and phones. Intel, Baidu to jointly develop search apps from IDG has more details. Baidu will also be using Intel processors. Let the processor wars begin! Well, hold on there. Google did cut a deal earlier this year with Intel to help promote Google Video to those with the Intel Viiv platform. Then again, who didn't partner with Intel on that?

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 9:03 AM | Permalink

April 7, 2006

Eva Longoria In Google Earth & Other Google Earth Deals

I skipped the entire iPod from outer space thing last month because it was clearly a hoax. But Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria being viewable in Google Earth is not. Well, sort of.

Suburbia pointed out that men's magazine Maxim is touting a giant cover of their 100th issue that's was constructed in the desert outside of Las Vegas. No, it wasn't shot from space. It was constructed on the ground, photographed and made viewable in Google Earth through an overlay file. Jossip has a nice rundown, along with some facts from the Maxim press release.

Sure, anyone can make an overlay file for insertion into Google Earth. But not anyone can get Google Earth to promote it. Clearly there's a deal in play here. The Maxim page about the Eva photo has a promo box pointing people over to Google Earth to do downloads of the software. And did you do the download? If so, you'll get this thank you page telling you to check out the Maxim cover as a featured item in Google Earth.

If you don't want to download Google Earth, you can get a sense of the cover here. But with Google Earth, you can zoom in much more.

If you're a Search Engine Watch member, the longer version of this post looks at some other Google Earth deals, including thoughts on them going into cars and taking ads along the way.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:17 AM | Permalink

April 4, 2006

Clear Channel Radio Signs Exclusive Deal With Google to Provide Search And Ads

Niall Kennedy informed me of a Reuters report that Clear Channel Communications has signed a deal for Google to provide search, paid search service (AdWords) and even contextual text ads (AdSense) in the future. These services are to be deployed across Clear Channel Communication's radio station Web sites.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:30 AM | Permalink

March 29, 2006

Google Reaches Definitive Agreement To Buy 5% Stake In AOL

Reuters reports that Google has finally reached an agreement with AOL to buy a 5% stake in the company. You can view the update here that says, in part; "On March 24, 2006, the parties signed definitive agreements governing this $1 billion investment in AOL and Google expects that the investment will close in the second quarter of 2006." So Google needs to hand over $1 billion in cash to AOL to acquire a 5% equity interest in AOL.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 4:09 PM | Permalink

March 28, 2006

Google Lands Deal With Verizon SuperPages.com

ClickZ reports that Google has landed a dead with Verizon SuperPages.com to provide some backfill sponsored results for SuperPages.com. Google will be using its AdWords PPC engine to help Verizon better monetize their online Yellow Pages engines, SuperPages.com. The deal will allow Verizon to increase their inventory of ads. SuperPages will be managing the accounts and they will buy the Google advertising on their behalf.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:52 AM | Permalink

March 20, 2006

Google And Nike Team Up To Create Soccer Social Networking Site

Nathan Weinberg reports that Google and Nike have launched Joga.com, a social networking site specifically targeting soccer fans worldwide. The site is invite only, like Google's Orkut is, and the login is reportedly through Google Accounts technology. BusinessWeek.com also has a write up on this, describing that Google is the technology partner and Nike is the content partner.

Joga.com is currently running in 140 countries and 14 languages. Nike reportedly approached Google with the idea, and they have been developing the site for over eight-months now. If Joga.com works out well, they are very likely to create social networking sites for not just soccer fans, but also individual fan sites for basketball, baseball, football and so on. For more information on Joga.com, visit the help center.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:53 AM | Permalink

March 17, 2006

Google And AOL Still Talking; Deal Deadline Extended

Reuters reports that Google and AOL are still in discussions about Google buying 5% of Time Warner Company. They have extended the deal deadline to March 17 and it can be extended even again, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The deal was to extend Google AdWords syndication on the AOL portal, as well as an instant messaging and video partnership.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:32 AM | Permalink

March 16, 2006

Google And Yahoo To Sell Branded PCs?

Via Garrett French, a Silicon Valley Watcher article that says Google and Yahoo are in talks with Wyse Technology to build out low-priced PC. Reportedly, Google and Yahoo are "interested in using low-priced PC-compatible computers to capture millions of users in developing countries."

There has been a lot of past speculation that Google working on its own operating system named Goobuntu, which Google denied. Also, back in March, Google Hired Microsoft's Top Windows Architect but then again denied rumors of building and selling computers. Makes you wonder what type of comment Google will release based on this news.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 11:30 AM | Permalink

March 10, 2006

Google Partners With BenQ& Google Removing Ads from Mobile Content?

PaidContent links to a story at Mob Happy describing how Google Mobile has removed the ads on his site. The before and after shot display that graphical ad is missing in mobile version. PaidContent says that "the ad in question wouldn't work very well on a mobile phone but it's beside the point." A publisher lives based of the ads they sell on their pages, for Google or Skweezer to remove them, is just not right. Maybe that is why "Google has been aggressively partnering with cell phone hardware manufacturers," from SearchViews?

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:26 AM | Permalink

March 9, 2006

Google to Partner with Wikipedia?

Garett Rogers reports that Google and the Wikipedia may be in some sort of partnership. March 6th, Google registered "googlereference.net/org/info and googlereferencepages.com/net/org/info", which can imply Google starting, what Garett is calling "Google Reference."

It is possible that Google registered these names for internal or self-help purposes. There are many companies now using Wikipedia technology internal or for documentation purposes. Garett offers that Google may be using these domain names as a "repository strictly for manuals and reference guides." These are all just guesses and we do not know the real reason behind the registration of these domain names, at this point in time.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:57 AM | Permalink

March 3, 2006

Google to Switch from Intel to AMD Chips

The LA Times reports that Google will be switching to Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) processors from Intel processors. They will be using Opteron processors in all new servers, and Google buys lots of new servers often. Because of this report, shares of Advanced Micro rose $1.40 to $40.07 that day. I guess AMD caught the Google wave.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:39 AM | Permalink

February 23, 2006

Google & EarthLink to Bid on San Francisco Free Wi-Fi

Via MercuryNews.com, Google and EarthLink has teamed up to offer a bid to San Francisco to build San Francisco's private section free wi-fi network. The bid is competing against five other teams including; Communication Bridge Global; NextWLAN; Razortooth Communications LLP; MetroFi and SF Metro Connect, a partnership that includes SeaKay, Cisco Systems Inc. and IBM Corp. Google and EarthLink hope to finance the project through ads and offering a premium, faster wi-fi connection for around $20 per month. It is expected that EarthLink will finance the majority of the projected $15 million venture. Google and EarthLink have been partners since 2002, Google powers EarthLink's search engine.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:08 AM | Permalink

February 15, 2006

Google Teams Up with BearingPoint to Increase Sales of Search Appliances

Google partners with BearingPoint from News.com covers a partnership that will enable Google to better support the Google Search Appliance and the Google Desktop for Enterprise software.

The deal will not only increase awareness and sales of the product but also enable Google to offer support contracts of $10,000 or more per year for "training and developer consultation" services.

Dave Girouard, general manager for Google Enterprise said that BearingPoint was the largest partner of Google's "Enterprise Professional Program" that enabled third party companies to support the products, since Google was not staffed to do so internally.

Google's official press release can be found here.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:28 AM | Permalink

February 14, 2006

Vodafone to Add Google Web Search Capabilities

Reuters reports in Vodafone and Google sign deal about a partnership that will enable Google search capabilities on Vodafone's "live! 3G service." I am thinking, Google and Vodafone became friends at a soccer game (kidding of course).

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:09 AM | Permalink

February 9, 2006

Eric Schmidt Clarifies Google & AOL's Roles at AOL

Nathan Weinberg points to a summary of Google's CEO Eric Schmidt's recent visit to AOL, where a difference between how each company defines "programmers" came up. Are programmers more about technology or programming content, asked AOL senior vice president Sree Kotay:

At AOL, we tend to have Programmers that offer our members a very managed experience that comforts them, whereas at Google, its much more automation and technology oriented - can you comment on this philosophy difference?

Eric Schmidt reportedly replied to that with the following statement;

"When you say Programmer and we say Programmer, we mean very different things... Does that answer the question?"

For many, Eric's reply perhaps did not answer the question. Kotay adds in comments after his original post:

I think he was pointing out, very succinctly, that the cultural values of our companies - reflected in the language we use in our everyday worklives - results in very different (no particular judgment implied) value propositions that we deliver to our partners and customers.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 11:24 AM | Permalink

February 8, 2006

Google Testing Software Distribution With Dell, Plus Details On IE7 Search Battle

We covered last month that Google was providing personal home pages for Dell. Dell testing preinstalled Google software package from Reuters now looks at how Google is working with Dell to put Google's desktop search and toolbar on Dell computers. It's said to be a test distribution, at the moment. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal looks at that and more about the search battle shaping up within IE7.

John Battelle points to Pressuring Microsoft, PC Makers Team Up With Its Software Rivals (paid sub. required) from the Wall Street Journal, which sparked the Reuters story about Google and Dell. The WSJ article covers how Google might pay Dell fees approaching $1 billion over three years for distribution.

The story goes deeper into concerns by Yahoo and Google that the new search toolbar in Internet Explorer 7 might hurt them, since MSN would be the default. Sure, it might. Then again, MSN Search has been the default in IE since at least IE3, if I recall. Despite this, non-Microsoft search engines haven't just survived, they've thrived. Yes, IE7 sports an actual search box this time, but I still think we'll see users change this off the default setting in various ways.

There's lots of detail on Google wanting Microsoft to ask consumers to make a conscious choice about search providers, rather than IE7 automatically using their choice in IE6 (which is probably MSN Search, for most people). It's an odd argument, given that Google has not demanded that Firefox make consumers do similar choices in that browser. A partnership deal makes Google the default in Firefox, except for Asian-language versions where Yahoo cut its own deals.

Chris Sherman is planning our own look at some of these issues in the near future. I'd love to see some universal agreement about how ALL browsers should handle choices of search providers, in terms of how defaults are set and can be changed. What I fear is another round of stealth default changes, where each of the players constantly try to switch you around.

Google and Yahoo encourage you to choose them as a default search provider through their software apps. I don't mind, because I can see they are clearly asking me when this happens. Both also try to encourage you to change in other ways, as you can see here and here. Again, I don't mind, because you can understand what's going on. But a few years ago, other players would just make the changes, leaving users puzzled about why all their searches mysteriously started going through some new search engine. We don't need that again.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:39 AM | Permalink

February 1, 2006

Click-to-Call Advertising: VoIP Inc. Announces Deal with Google

The News.com article: Google calls upon VoIP, reports that Google has signed a deal with VoiceOne to provide VoIP services for Google's click-to-call advertising service. Actually, VoiceOne and their parent company, VoIP Inc. have been working with Google since September.

VoIP CTO [Shawn] Lewis said he believes that the contract expires in two years and that he could not provide further details because of a nondisclosure agreement. "We are working with VoIP, Inc. on a click-to-call advertising test which we began late last year," a Google spokeswoman said in an e-mail response to questions. "We have no further details to share at this time."

The article also points out that an SEC document filed on Monday shows that the two companies entered into an agreement on Sept. 1, 2005 and now have a "direct peering" relationship that allows their IP networks (Google and VoIP) to exchange data.

The full text of the SEC document is available here.

Google began testing its click-to-call program in November.

Om Malik has more on the deal and VoIP Inc. in this post.

Posted by Gary Price at 12:15 AM | Permalink

January 17, 2006

Google and Canada.com Announce Multiyear Partnership

The Toronto Star reports that Google has entered into a multiyear agreement with the well-known Canadian portal, Canada.com (owned by media giant CanWest Global Communications) to provide search and advertising on the site.

The multiyear partnership will provide Canada.com users with content and search related advertising, while offering Google's advertisers access to Canada.com's extensive reach [almost three million unique visitors a month] across the country, the companies said.

This map offers a good look at the many sites (including many newspaper sites) and services that make up the Canada.com network.

Posted by Gary Price at 7:15 PM | Permalink

January 13, 2006

Google-MSN Fight In Internet Explorer 7; Yahoo Pokes At Google In Firefox

Nacho points out in What? No Google on Vista? Google Strikes Back on IE 7! at Search Engine Roundtable a screenshot showing how Google is not among the recommended search engines on a guide for those wanting to customize IE7. OK, the page is under construction, but it's hard to believe it's an oversight. Below this, he's got a screenshot showing how Google is prompting in IE7 for users to make it the default search engine. I seem to recall seeing something similar like this from Yahoo, but I can't track that down. It's all kind of an aside to me. I'm not leaving Firefox!

Postscript: Just remembered the Yahoo thing. It's how they try to promote you searching from Yahoo rather than Google in Firefox's built-in toolbar:

Click To Enlarge Screenshot

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 9:22 AM | Permalink

January 9, 2006

Google Now Providing Personalized Home Pages for Current Communications and Dell

Numerous posts from various sources point out that in recent days Google has released two new "personalized" page services for a couple of sites. Here's a quick review: PaidContent, Micro Persuasion, Google Blogoscoped, and Inside Google report that Google is now providing "personalized" pages for Current Communications, a broadband over power lines company, that Google invested in last summer.

We also read that the Dell.com personalized page that comes as the default on browsers shipped with new Dell systems is now being provided by Google. In the past, Dell's personalized home page was provided by My Way, a part of the Ask Jeeves. The Dell/MyWay page is still live.

Posted by Gary Price at 1:20 PM | Permalink

January 6, 2006

Google Gets Into Motorola Cell Phones With Mobile Search

Motorola and Google Align for Mobile Search is the official word from Google and Motorola that they are teaming up in a mobile search partnership. Motorola is to insert a Google button into "internet-optimized" phones beginning by the end of March 2006, worldwide. The button will take users to Google search services.

The BBC reports that eventually, Motorola will incorporate a Google link into all of its phones. Google has a variety of mobile search services, and Search Engine Watch members can read up on them via the Google: Mobile category in Search Topics.

Recently, Google released a special local search application for Java-enabled phones. It also maintains web and image search designed for mobile phones, including a more restricted index of mobile-friendly pages, along with SMS search features.

As for other mobile partnerships, Google has one with T-Mobile and way back in 2001 partnered with Sprint, though that might not still be going. I'm checking up on others and will postscript as appropriate.

Postscript: Here's another mobile phone/web partnership. Sprint and Yahoo began offering an enhanced client for Yahoo Mail last June.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:33 AM | Permalink

January 5, 2006

Google Pack Software Bundle & Pay Per View Video Coming From Google, To Be Announced At CES

Via Threadwatch, Google to Offer Video Downloads, Software That Rivals Microsoft's from the Wall Street Journal says that Google cofounder Larry Page will announce in his CES keynote this week that Google will offer pay-per-video downloads through Google Video and a new "Google Pack" bundle of software that people can download.

Per-per-view video or video for purchase is no surprise. Google's already said it would do this. It's simply been a matter of timing, so perhaps the time -- Page's first CES address -- is right. Rumblings supporting the Wall Street Journal's story are out there. Garrett Rogers has spotted per per view screens in the wild, along with perhaps a new video software program coming.

The Google Pack would bundle Google software along with other software such as Norton AntiVirus, RealPlayer and Trillian. Google's given no previous indication something like this would be coming. However, the company did recently do a bundling deal to put its applications on Lexar flash drives, the latest in a series of deals.

There's also an arrangement with Sun for distribution of the Google Toolbar, a bundling deal with WinZip to distribute the Google Toolbar and Google Desktop, a similar one with InterVideo and a long-standing one from 2004 to put the Google Toolbar with RealPlayer.

Interestingly, one of the bundled applications within the Google Pack will be the Adobe Reader. Adobe already has a partnership with Yahoo to include a cobranded Yahoo Search toolbar within copies of reader that Adobe hands out.

Postscript: Please see full details at Google Pack Offers 1-Stop Downloading Of Software and Google Video Store Opens

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 6:47 AM | Permalink

December 29, 2005

Google Will Be Default Search Engine on Opera's Mobile Browsers

Dirson reports that Opera (the browser company) Google will be the default search tool on all of Opera's mobile browsers including the new Opera Mini set for release next month. The TechWeb article: Google To Supply Search For Opera's Mobile Browsers, has more.

From the article:

[Opera CEO Christian] Jebsen said users of Opera Mini can still use the more established way of accessing a search engine, simply by calling up book-marked search engines. He noted that Opera is comfortable with Google as a partner because it has had a good working relationship with the search colossus for several years.

I can't say this comes as a surprise. As Jebsen notes Google and Opera have worked together for several years. Until earlier this year when the Opera browser became available at no charge (sans ads), Google paid listings were visible on the free version of the Opera. Also, Google is included as a search option with the desktop version of Opera.

In fact...

As Om points out in this interesting post, it was Google that helped Opera become a free tool. He writes:

...I found out that the decision to give away the browser came after the company struck ?compensation deals? with some of the search engines. Apparently, the premier tenant for browser?s built-in search window, is Google. ?The current most important deal now is with Google,? company spokesperson Eskil Siversten wrote in an email. The company indicated that it has similar referral-for-dollars agreements with the likes of eBay and Amazon.

In recent weeks, speculation about a possible acquisition by either Google or Microsoft have been making the rounds. Opera has said that all rumors about an acquisition by any company are not true.

Posted by Gary Price at 4:51 PM | Permalink

December 28, 2005

Revisiting The "No Banners On Google" Declaration

I wrote previously of Google promising that the terms of its deal with AOL wouldn't see a flood of banner ads flowing onto its pages nor the selling out of Google's principles. But I still felt there was some "wiggle room" in that "no banners" isn't the same as "no graphical ads." Now I've had a chance to talk with Google. Yes, banners are pretty much out. However, other graphical units might still happen. Here's a rundown from my conversation today with Google's Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products & user experience, who took time away from her vacation to talk.

"There will be no banner ads on the Google homepage or web search results pages."

That was Mayer's declaration last week on the Google blog. Pretty much, that's the case. There are no plans for banner ads on the Google home page that everyone who is not logged into Google sees. That's primarily because Google doesn't feel banner ads -- or other types of ads -- can be well targeted to those users.

"We don't believe in untargeted ads, so how are we possibly going to serve a targeted ad on that page?," Mayer said, explaining that someone coming to the Google home page has communicated no information of what they might be interested in.

However, the Google Personalized Home Page is another matter. That service is available to anyone who sets up an account and logs in to Google. For these people, Google does have a better idea of what they might be interested in. Because of that, ads -- including graphical ads -- makes more sense.

"On the personalized home page, we do know things about you, what weather you're looking for, what stocks, what news. So it's more plausible to me," Mayer said. However, she stressed that there are no immediate plans for ads of any type.

"We're probably a good six months to a year away from even thinking about this. The entire focus now is on building a user base," Mayer said, adding that the top priority right now is to improve the usability of the personalized home page service.

When and if graphical ads should come, there's a slight chance they could be of the banner format. But far more likely, they'd be something completely different, Mayer said. Google would be looking for a display unit that was fresh and worked well with the geometry of that page, which currently uses a more rectangular "module" format.

How about search results pages? Banner ads were ruled out for those in Mayer's declaration, but in my article about that, I'd mentioned I'd heard from another reporter that non-banner graphic units might be coming. That was Elinor Mills, who now has her own article out today about them and other issues: What the Google-AOL deal means for users.

Yes, non-banner units may be coming to Google search results pages, Mayer said.

AOL raised the idea with Google of some type of icon-like display unit that might run in conjunction with text ads and which might be helpful in building brand recognition. Google's agreed this is something that might be tested.

At the moment, the idea is to perhaps run very small 16x16 pixel icons that might be associated with an ad. To illustrated how small these are, I've taken an actual AOL text ad running on Google and inserted the AOL logo next to the ad headline. Before I show that, let me stress:

THE EXAMPLE BELOW IS NOT, NOT, NOT ANYTHING OFFICIAL FROM GOOGLE, OTHER THAN THE PROPOSED SIZE OF THE GRAPHICAL UNIT.

Official AOL® Signup Download AOL® Internet. 50 Days Free Trial! www.Free.AOL.com

How exactly the icons would be place may not happen as I've shown above. They might not appear at all. I just wanted to give everyone a visual representation of how big -- or really how small -- the icons being discussed are.

Mayer also stressed that there is nothing in the contracts that requires Google to carry graphic units of any sort on the search results page. It simply something that's come up in the discussions and that Google may experiment with.

Should Google decide icon treatments are successful, Mayer said they won't be exclusive to AOL. Any advertiser would be able to use them, as well.

Icons added to search listings wouldn't be new. AltaVista Listing Enhancements are a classic example of a somewhat similar program that came out in November 2001. They never really took off, in part I felt because they were only available to paid inclusion customers. I can't recall when the program formally ended.

Outside web search, banner ads sold by AOL might come to Google Video or Google Images. The contract does allow for AOL's ads to show up on "suitable" Google properties, and both of those are given as examples -- though that's not a requirement that they must carry them.

Part of the deal covers Google showcasing AOL content in Google Video search. I worried earlier that this might mean coming into the Google Video home page and finding that there's an entire area devoted to AOL on the home page.

Mayer said exactly what will happen remains to be determined, but nothing of that magnitude I worried about seems to be in the works. Instead, it's likely that AOL -- along with a number of existing content partners -- will be allowed to have small logo treatments on the bottom of the Google Video home page. There might be text saying that content in Google Video is provided in part through partnerships with AOL and the other providers, and clicking on the logos would bring users into just content from those providers. Mayer said that all providers, not just AOL, are looking for brand visibility of some type. That's why this wouldn't be exclusive just to AOL.

The last big issue in the deal was the provision where Google says it has "agreed to assist AOL and Time Warner in understanding our published and/or publicly available tools for improving the accessibility of a web site?s content to Google's web crawlers."

Some have worried this means Google will be helping AOL rank better, perhaps by giving them ubersecret insight into their technology. I worried less about that, at least in the sense that Google already has been working with a variety of companies to give them indexing advice. In the same way, Google spends plenty of time doing the same at conferences and in online forums.

The concern on my end had been that previously, providing some of this advice as part of an ad deals leaves it open for the lines between church and state to seem blurry. The same happened with the AOL deal. Including editorial support and advice as part of that meant Google had to respond that it wouldn't do anything for AOL beyond what it would do as part of its overall mission to gather content.

So why put this in the agreement at all? Why, if it's something Google would do anyway, allow it to go into a business document that caused questions to be raised of impartiality?

Ultimately, it was a pragmatic decision, Mayer said. AOL especially wanted reassurance in the contract. Since Google was going to do this type of work irregardless of the contract, including it simply was being practical.

For AOL, Google will look at doing some special work to index content that isn't in HTML format or other formats readily accessible to its crawlers, Mayer said. However, that work will ultimately benefit anyone with similar content, Mayer said. Similarly, Google already works with a variety of publishers with content it would like to access but where special needs are required.

Mayer added that the provision AOL asked for was virtually identical to one Yahoo wanted when Google became its search provider back in 2000, before Yahoo shifted to its own technology. Yahoo naturally wanted to ensure that if it was going to have a search engine powered by Google, that search engine would include its own content.

Want to discuss or comment? Visit our forum thread, Google To Hold On To AOL.

Postscript: Hey, Jen reminds me that Google's already experimented with icons in text ads before within its contextual AdSense placements. She's got more in Advertiser favicons being used in AdSense ad units and screenshots which look very similar to what I was guessing at. In fact, the logo I used for AOL was the favicon they show when you go their site -- and favicons were what AdSense seemed to be pulling from.

Postscript 2: John Battelle was talking with Marissa as well today and posts his own take over in Interview: For AOL/Google, The Devil Is In the Details.

John's focused mainly on the possible inclusion of AOL content into Google OneBox results and how deals for those are done generally. However, it pretty much comes out that Google's not been doing deals for "OneBox Providers," if you will, which was pretty much my understanding. They've always seemed to just pick people they think have useful content and link over without requiring a business arrangement. AOL is a departure in this, in that it is promised to be included in relevant OneBoxes where they have "a materially equivalent service."

Marissa stresses to John, as she did with me, that many of the details are still to be worked out. I also covered that earlier in Google's AOL Stake Rolling Into Holding Company It Can Take Public In 2008 from last week. Details are expected to be sorted out by the first quarter of next year, with binding arbitration to be used if agreements can't be reached.

John also gets into how the deal was negotiated and one. The turnabout, according to the Wall Street Journal, was because the Microsoft deal was too complicated and the search engine and ad tech too new. Google was seen as the safer choice. A commenter on John post also points to this good follow-up piece from the WSJ.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 2:00 PM | Permalink

December 23, 2005

Google's AOL Stake Rolling Into Holding Company It Can Take Public In 2008

I got a research note from Ben Schachter over at UBS Investment Research flagging that Google has now filed an 8-K form on the AOL deal that sheds light on some new details, include rolling its AOL stake into a new company that it can take public in 2008. You'll find the filing here. Highlights below:

• Some of the exact details of the agreement are still being worked out. That's expected to complete the first quarter of next year.  
• Should some details not be agreed, a resolution will be reached through binding arbitration.  
• Google is going to hold its 5 percent share of AOL through a new limited liability company (either called HoldCo or that being the term used to indicate a yet to be named holding company)  
• Google can sell the HoldCo interests in a public offering as of July 1, 2008 or afterward (so you're were right, John -- it is a second IPO, but in a different way than you thought!).  
• AOL can prevent a sale by exercising its right to purchase HoldCo from Google at an appraised fair market value.  
• The deal runs for five years, substantially longer than any previous deal Google and AOL have had.  
• It covers AOL being able to sell text ads on its own site in addition to carrying the same type ads from Google.  
• It covers AOL being able to sell display ads on the Google network.  
• It covers AOL being promoted on Google "consistent with Google principles," plus AOL receiving ad credits.  
• Google will fund marketing efforts for AOL through third party media outlines to promote agreed upon properties.  
• It covers the previously promised help for AOL and Time Warner to understand how to be indexed by Google better: "We have agreed to assist AOL and Time Warner in understanding our published and/or publicly available tools for improving the accessibility of a web site?s content to Google?s web crawlers."  
• Google Talk users will have to register their names with AIM in order to interact with AIM clients.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:42 AM | Permalink

December 20, 2005

Google/AOL Deal is a Go: AIM and Google Talk To Become Interoperable, White Labelling of Google Ad Technology, and Expansion of Display Ads on Google Network All Part of "What's New"

Reuters is reporting that the deal $1 billion deal that has Google buying a 5% stake in AOL is a go after being approved at today's Time Warner Board Meeting.

A press release from Time Warner officially confirms it's a go.

The news release calls the deal an expansion of the AOL/Google strategic partnership that's been around for three years.

Here are some highlights from the news release.

What's new? In my original post from last week I wondered aloud if a this new AOL/Google deal would mean anything in the IM world where AOL's AIM is the market learder and the new Google Talk. Would interoperability be possibility? It looks like my thoughts were right along with what was being discussed between the two companies.

News release passages in italics: + Google Talk users and AIM users will be able to communicate with one another if, and the following is a direct quote, "if certain conditions are met."

+ Collaborating in video search and showcasing AOL's premium video service within Google Video I spent quite a bit of space speculating on what this might mean for AOL Video and Google Video now and in the future my post from last Friday. Between the two companies they sure have a good chunk of video search technology.

+ Creating an AOL Marketplace through white labeling of Google's advertising technology - enabling AOL to sell search advertising directly to advertisers on AOL-owned properties.

+ "Expanding display advertising throughout the Google network." Exactly what type of display ads and where they will be seen is not specified. Danny has blogged about Google and displayed ads (before this official announcement).

+ Making AOL content more accessible to Google Web crawlers. Again, what this precisely means was not made clear in the release. I guess placement of this content is what many of us are wondering about. Danny's article linked above also talks about the, "SEO advice Google already gives other large companies as part of the sales pitch and support to get them to buy ads."

+ Providing AOL marketing credits for its Internet properties.

Non-US AOL and Google have also agreed to extend the term of their existing European relationship, and, subject to mutual agreement, they may extend the AOL Marketplace internationally. In addition, Google, AOL and Time Warner may choose to expand the new partnership to Time Warner's other advertising opportunities.

Bottom Lines and Comments from Management: + "The agreement creates a global online advertising partnership, makes more of AOL's industry-leading content available to Google users, and includes a $1 billion investment in AOL by Google."

+ Google will become the only shareholder in AOL other than Time Warner. Google will have certain customary minority shareholder rights, including those associated with any future sale or public offering of AOL.

+ Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick Parsons said: "We're very pleased to build significantly on our special relationship with Google in a way that will meaningfully strengthen AOL's position in the fast-growing online advertising business and help drive more advertisers to its Web properties...A critical piece of this strategic alliance will be our content, which we will be making more accessible to Google users."

+ "We've also created a simple way for AOL Marketplace advertisers to buy and place search-related advertising across the AOL network. This partnership is an important next step for our companies." --Eric Schmidt, Google CEO

+ "AOL and Google have a very successful history working together, and this is an opportunity to take it to a new level that will benefit both companies and the customers we serve. We are excited about working with Google on the next generation of AOL products, while further expanding our presence on the Web. This is a great moment for AOL." -- Jonathan Miller, AOL's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Additional Coverage From + News.com + Wall Street Journal (sub req.)

Posted by Gary Price at 6:47 PM | Permalink

Lexar Flash Drives To Come Pre-Loaded with Google Software

Here's an interesting deal that once again illustrates Google's push to get their software apps used by more people. Lexar, the well-known maker of USB flash drives, announced today a partnership with Google that will bring Google applications like Picasa, Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search pre-loaded onto Lexar USB Drives.

In other words, buy a USB flash drive and also get some Google software.

Customers who purchase a Lexar JumpDrive simply have to plug the device into the USB port, on their computer, where the user will be prompted with instructions to easily install the free applications. If the user accepts installation, Google products automatically install to their computer and are then removed from the USB flash drive.

Lexar USB Drives pre-loaded with Google software will begin to roll-out in the next few weeks.

More info in this news release.

Posted by Gary Price at 5:19 PM | Permalink

More On AOL Pushing Google Into Graphic Ads & AOL Promotion

AOL Coaxes Google to Try Busier Ads from the New York Times dives deeper into details that emerged earlier this week about how Google will help promote AOL as part of the bid to retain the company as a Google partner, along with new graphical ads that will be coming to Google search results pages near you.

Google is looking to promote AOL content within a OneBox display area, something familiar to many of our readers, as we've written of them in the past. OneBoxes are where Google promotes other vertical search results that may be of interest to searches, such as news listings or shopping results.

AOL isn't being promised any exclusivity or guarantee to show up in these areas, and including material from other companies isn't even a radical departure. Google stock result OneBoxes already pull from various providers, for example. You can see how that works in a search for goog and the resulting detailed page.

Graphical ads appear to be in the works for Google's search results pages, though traditional banners might not show up except in Google Image Search and Froogle shopping search. The Google home page would remain without graphics. From earlier reports, it sounds like AOL will get some of graphical space to help promote its own sites plus have the ability to resell graphical ads on Google.

AOL is also getting SEO advice from Google. What?!!! Secrets on ranking better? No, it sounds more like the SEO advice Google already gives other large companies as part of the sales pitch and support to get them to buy ads. That's semi-controversial mainly with SEOs who feel the advice Google gives may undercut their oftentimes more detailed and better advice, simply because it comes with Google's own seal of approval. It also does blur the church-and-state divide a bit.

Overall, I'm sitting back until the deal is formally announced and people are talking on the record about it. That's likely to happen today. Then I'll dive back in and look more closely at what's being offered and what lines, if any, are being cross. In the meantime, some further reading and a semi-scorecard to date.

1) OneBox inclusion of AOL content probably doesn't harm Google's reputation for impartial results if AOL isn't promised any particular placement or exclusivity.

2) Graphical ads will definitely cause some purists -- and maybe even some ordinary Google users -- to raise eyebrows and perhaps feel Google has sold out. Expect that Google may likely make the display of these an option, on by default but easy to switch off. That will help, but overall, graphical ads I'd say will be seen as a sign that Google's just like "all the other" search engines and losing some of the magic some feel it has.

3) Google Thinking Flash Ads? covers what may have been some testing in preparation of running graphic ads in search results. Google Offers Banners & Image Ads -- But Not On Google Itself from last year covers the graphic ads that Google rolled out for contextual placement. At the time, Google did say partners might also eventually show these in search results. Whether these ads would come up on Google itself wasn't addressed. I don't think Google has ever completely ruled out the idea of graphical ads, but they do seem to conflict with part of its corporate philosophy:

Google has also proven that advertising can be effective without being flashy. Google does not accept pop-up advertising, which interferes with your ability to see the content you've requested. We've found that text ads (AdWords) that are relevant to the person reading them draw much higher clickthrough rates than ads appearing randomly.

A CBS News interview last year did have Google's director of technology eschewing banners:

"The focus that Google has on our users, you know, a very slim homepage and so forth -- text ads, not banner," says Silverstein. "We do that because we don't want to go to sites with banner ads. We don't like them."The focus that Google has on our users, you know, a very slim homepage and so forth -- text ads, not banner," says Silverstein. "We do that because we don't want to go to sites with banner ads. We don't like them."

Certainly the oft-cited person who diagnosed himself as having a heart attack after doing a Google search might not be thrilled about graphical ads coming. They slowed him down during his crisis and made Google a winner to him for not having them. From what he sent Google:

On Monday morning, as I started my workday as a Web developer and designer, I felt a pressure in my chest. Being 52 years old and somewhat familiar with the early warning signs of a heart attack, I thought I'd go online and check on the early signs of heart attack and stroke. My initial quest lead me to 'Blah, Blah, Blah'" ? which is a different search site which I won't mention the name of ? "wherein I entered the search terms 'heart attack symptoms'.

As I waited for the banner ads to download, and then the content, I became more and more anxious. I turned to Google. I knew from prior experience that I could expect the quickest search results possible, and I was not disappointed. In less than a tenth of a second, the top listing led me to the American Heart Association Web page. Their easy to understand graphics and descriptions lead me to acknowledge my predicament, and I went to the local hospital where I commenced to have a full-blown heart attack.

Thirty-six hours later, just prior to emergency, triple-bypass, open-heart surgery, my doctor told me that had I had a stroke at any time while waiting for the operation, the chances were great that I would not have survived. This was a very sobering thought to me, my wife and our three sons, who thought they may have seen the last of their dad. Simply put, had I putzed around waiting for another website to display interminable graphics and banner ads, I might not be here today. Instead, I wanted immediate results, got them from Google, and for once did the right thing by going to the hospital."

I expect that if graphic ads do appear, you'll see the Google philosophy page be adjusted to structure graphic ads as being relevant in the right situation, just as Google has changed that page in other ways to accommodate portal features it has added. Google's Philosophical Ten True Things Not So True Anymore? and Google's Philosophy: Then and Now cover those adjustments more. But overall, I don't disagree with graphic ads as being useful. They can be, especially for those who are seeking to build brand. Chris Anderson had an interesting post recently on how he's using AdWords not for clicks but to build awareness. Big Guys Crowd Out Little Guys in SEM Arena; Some Branding Focused Advertisers Willing to Spend "Whatever" It Takes, Don't Hate Search, Search May Not Be From Branding, But It Will Still Pull Branding Spend, and Search Ads Used By More Than "New Breed" Advertisers are just some past blog posts that cover how brand owners are looking at search to boost their properties. They aren't necessarily crazy or irrational spenders, either. C'mon In Brand Owners, The Search Water's Fine explains this a bit more. But in short, they're looking for something other than direct conversions, are willing to spend and it's only natural that search engines will have to react to this demand.

What we don't want, however, is a repeat of the days such as when Yahoo was partnered with Amazon. Old timers will recall how every search at Yahoo used to bring up an Amazon box in the right hand column. It was ever present, annoying and quickly ignored. If AOL is promoted this way -- or if brand ads from others aren't targeted well -- they'll also become annoying and ignored.

4) The AOL deal will raise awareness of advice Google is directly giving to some major advertisers, as I covered in my earlier Google SEO Support Given To Advertisers. While that still doesn't appear to be crossing the church-and-state divide, it is blurring the lines more, something that Google may regret down the line unless it can provide more support services to everyone.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit the Google to Hold onto AOL thread in our Search Engine Watch Forums.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:56 AM | Permalink

December 19, 2005

Time Warner Investor Works to "Derail" Rumored Google/AOL Deal

Legendary investor, the 24th richest man in America, and a major holder of Time Warner stock, Carl Icahn, is not happy with the rumored AOL deal with Google and according to this News.com story*, is working to "derail" the deal.

From the article: "Like all shareholders, I am not opposed to Time Warner entering into an AOL transaction that creates long-term value. However, I am deeply concerned that the Time Warner board may be on the verge of making a disastrous decision concerning an agreement with Google if this agreement would make it more difficult in any way or effectively preclude a merger or other type of transaction with companies such as (InterActiveCorp), eBay, Yahoo or Microsoft." Icahn wrote in an open letter to the Time Warner board of directors.

The full text or Mr. Icahn's letter is available here.

The letter includes the following paragraph where Icahn questions of Google is the best partner for AOL: I also question whether Google is the best partner for unlocking the value of the AOL asset. Indeed, a recent Goldman Sachs report concludes, "In contrast to the conventional perspective, we believe that eBay, followed by InterActive Corp, would provide greater incremental benefits to AOL's option value with fewer conflicts of interest than Yahoo while MSN and Google would provide the least incremental benefits."

Icahn has been building support for a proxy fight to split AOL off before last Friday's news.

Icahn's letter goes on to say: The real risk for Time Warner shareholders is that a Google joint venture may be short sighted in nature and may preclude any consideration of a broader set of alternatives that would better maximize value and ensure a bright future for AOL.

Once again, I am not opposed to the Board using its business judgment to enter into a transaction with Google or another suitor so long as the transaction does not destroy or impede Time Warner's flexibility to unlock shareholder value in the near and long term.

We should know more later this week afer the Time Warner Board Meeting.

More coverage of the possible Google/AOL deal is available here.

* Postscript: On Jan. 24, 2006 I noticed that the live version of the News.com story was no longer available. That's why we are now linking to a cached version.

Posted by Gary Price at 4:11 PM | Permalink

December 16, 2005

Sorry Bill and Steve, WSJ Reports Google Near $1 Billion Deal With AOL

If Gates and Ballmer wanted a deal with AOL (Time Warner) as a Christmas gift, it appears that they're not going to get it. The MSFT vs. GOOG game of the "Price is Right" appears to be ending according to this just posted story from the Wall Street Journal: AOL Nears Deal With Google (sub req).

Here are a few key facts and passages from the article by Julia Angwin, Kevin J. Delaney and Dennis K. Berman:

+ AOL and Google are now in "exclusive negotiations." Microsoft has been "shut out" of the negotiations at this point.

+ Google will pay $1 billion for a 5% stake in AOL.

+ "AOL would be able to sell advertising among the search results provided by Google on AOL Web properties." At the moment, sponsored links come from Google...AOL's sales staff would also sell display ads across Google's network of Web publishers."

+ "Google will promote AOL's Web properties among the sponsored links in its search results, and will include AOL's collection of online videos among its search results. Google's arrangement to provide search technology for AOL, which was set to expire at the end of next year, would be extended for five years."

+ Don't look for a deal and/or an announcement until next week after a Time-Warner board meeting.

With multimedia search being one of the hot topics of 2005, I find it interesting that AOL Video, which we've been talking about a lot this year both in terms of content and UI, will be visible in Google results in one form or another. It's obvious that video and video search have been a high priority to the company over the past year and they've done some impressive work. AOL has easy access to lots of video content from Time-Warner, deals with other providers, and also its own multimedia crawler with SingingFish. It will be interesting to see (no pun) if any exclusive video that Google has would/will begin appearing on AOL? Also would future deals that both companies make for video content be made so the material would be accessible on both services? Will the AOL Video database of crawled video content continue to use SingingFish technology or will Google begin to using the SingingFish crawler?

Btw, don't forget that AOL is currently testing (it works great for me) the delivery of high-quality videos while your computer is quiet.

I'm also wondering about future issues with Google and AOL in the instant messaging space. AOL is the leader. Will Google Talk become interoperable with AIM, so the two systems and their users can chat or talk to each other? Earlier this year, MSN and Yahoo announced a deal that will allow users of either service to chat with each other. Would the AIM and Google Talk tech be merged? I could go on with VoIP, broadband, wi-fi, cable tv, and all sorts of other stuff but let's not get way ahead of ourselves.

From the SEW Archives: + Overture & Inktomi Out, Google In At AOL (May 1, 2002) + AOL Moves Fully To Google (August 5, 2002) + AOL Renews With Google (October 8, 2003)

Want to discuss? Check this thread in the SEW Forums.

Postscript: Reuters has now published a story on the still yet to be announced deal. The Google-AOL talks would expand on a relationship which analysts estimate account for 2 percent to 4 percent of Google's revenue on a net basis. AOL uses Google's search engine

Postscript 2: Perhaps the most interesting part of all of this is found (via Searchblog ) in this coverage from the NY Times that says that Google will give AOL preferred placement on the Google site.

Here's the passage: Google, which prides itself on the purity of its search results, agreed to give favored placement to content from AOL throughout its site, something it has never done before.

Does this mean "favored placement" of ads or of organic results? I think before starting to speculate we need to know more on just what Google is thinking here. If Google would start giving "favored placement" for organic results then it would sure be a "wow" moment/change of direction in Google's history. From an advertising standpoint it would be interesting to see how the SEM community would respond. Battelle uses the expression "jump the shark" to describe the NYT passage in his post but adds that it also just might be a "trial balloon."

Of course, it's very unlikely we hear anything official about any of this until next week.

Postscript 3 (Saturday): David Vise's article from the Washington Post on the possible deal. From the article: + AOL also will get the exclusive right to sell online banner ads for Google. AOL will keep about 20 percent of the proceeds from those ad sales, while Google will get about 80 percent.

+ "AOL is a valued partner," Google spokeswoman Lynn Fox said yesterday. "We look forward to continuing to work with them."

+ AOL has provided Google with more than $400 million in ad revenue so far this year, according to public filings.

+ The existing arrangement -- under which Google provides text-based ads and free search results on AOL -- will continue, with AOL keeping 80 percent of those ad proceeds and Google taking 20 percent.

+ One source said AOL will also have the right to buy graphic ads that appear alongside the text-based ads Google traditionally has displayed to the right of its free search results.

+ Google's search results, based on equations that rank them according to relevancy, will not be changed as a result of the new partnership with AOL, sources said.

Postscript 4: See AOL's Choice of Google Leaves Microsoft as the Outsider has more details on AOL having concerns over MSN's new ad network and arguing that its own ad serving software was beter.

Posted by Gary Price at 12:44 PM | Permalink

December 14, 2005

Rumor Mill: Acquisition Time? Is Google Going To The Opera (Browser)?

I'm not one for spreading rumors but sometimes...? Feel like a hot one? OK, we've got one or should I say Dirson has one. What is it? Google is going to acquire Opera. That's right, the wonderful and powerful Opera browser from Norway (Opera Software ASA to be precise) might become Google's latest acquisition.

In addition to offering a traditional web browser, Opera also plays very hard in the mobile browser space. Might the acquisition be Google's holiday present to itself? I haven't heard anything other than what Dirson reports.

Ok, now to the source of what's going to be getting lots of blogosphere buzz in the coming hours. Dirson's New Google Blog links to a French language blog by Pierre Chappaz (former president of Yahoo! Europe), says that the acquisition is going down but to use the terms given in Google's mechanical translation of the post, this info needs to be "taken with precaution." That's one of the things that make it a rumor. If you don't read French and want it translated (CAVEAT EMPTOR) here's a mechanical translation from Google and from other sources.

I've asked Google for a comment and will post if/when one is received.

The Opera browser, once fee-based, if you wanted banner ads powered by Google removed, became totally free with no banner ads in September. You can still purchase premium support.

Talk about Google and a Google browser (aka GBrowser) goes back a long time. In recent months Google has not only recruited several key people from the Mozilla Foundation (the Firefox people) but is still looking for more Firefox engineeers. Also, Danny's post: Googlebar For Firefox, Plus The Google & Firefox Deal, reports on a "business relationship alongside Firefox."

Though she [Google's Marissa Mayer] didn't reveal specific terms, she said it encompassed a variety of things, such as hosting the Firefox start up page (which will increasingly grow in traffic and bandwidth demands) plus distribution gains for Google by being a favorite in the browser.

So, needless to say Google and Firfox/Mozilla Foundation are very close.

Speculation: As I mentioned earlier, Opera is a key browser in the mobile space so that might be an excellent reason for an acquisition plus it takes it off the market and keeps it from another company (take your pick, nane your reason) from acquiring what in my opinion is a wonderful and constantly improving tool. You've got to wonder if Opera's removal of Google ads, making the product free, and an acquisition by Google are all related? According to Om Malik, it was Google that helped to make Opera free. Huh?

Om writes in a September post: I found out that the decision to give away the browser came after the company struck ?compensation deals? with some of the search engines. Apparently, the premier tenant for browser?s built-in search window, is Google. ?The current most important deal now is with Google,? company spokesperson Eskil Siversten wrote in an email. The company indicated that it has similar referral-for-dollars agreements with the likes of eBay and Amazon.

Last February, Google Maps became usable on the Opera browser.

I use Opera all the time (I even paid for it) and will admit to being a bit sentimental about it. Why? The first article I ever had published was a review of Opera in Online Magazine back in 1998. It was titled, The Little Browser that Can."

Stay tuned.

Postscript: Google said it had no comment on the "rumors and speculation" about Opera.

Postscript 2 (Thursday, December 15th): Reuters is reporting that the CFO of Opera says his company is NOT in talks with Google (or any other company) about an acquisition.

Christian Jebsen, Opera's Chief Financial Officer told Reuters, "We have heard the rumours but know nothing more about this."

Posted by Gary Price at 4:01 PM | Permalink

December 7, 2005

Google and Microsoft Play "The Price is Right" with AOL

According to a Reuters story (via News.com): Microsoft, Google still vying for AOL: that proposals from both Microsoft and Google have been submitted to AOL to "strike an internet advertising partnership" with the company.

Julia Angwin And Kevin J. Delaney in the WSJ (sub required) write: People familiar with the matter said that under the proposal being discussed, AOL, whose current ad partner is Google, would switch to using Microsoft's search engine, and the two companies would set up a joint venture to sell online advertising across both AOL and Microsoft's MSN portal. The services would remain under control of their respective owners, but their ads would reach many more online customers than they do now, these people said.

But Google remained in its own partnership talks with Time Warner late yesterday and still could emerge on top, these people cautioned. A sticking point so far has been its reluctance to guarantee Time Warner a minimum amount of revenue, which Microsoft has done, said one person familiar with the talks.

Reuters reports that at least another round of negotiations are likely and we might learn of a final decision by Christmas.

In other talks, Comcast Corp., which sources said was considering a joint deal with Google, is now also seeking a separate arrangement with AOL, regardless of the outcome. The top U.S. cable operator is discussing how it can market its high-speed Internet service to AOL's dwindling but still large dialup customer base, among other topics.

Micrsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, while in DC remained quiet on any sort of deal but said:

Online advertising is of keen interest to us, and I have absolutely nothing to say about the AOL deal or (any) deal whatever," Ballmer said. "If you ask, particularly our consumer-facing businesses, what will be the most rapidly growing revenue stream at Microsoft, it's absolutely going to be advertising.

Posted by Gary Price at 1:34 PM | Permalink

November 30, 2005

Yahoo Now Default Search Engine on Asian Versions of Firefox 1.5

Yesterday, Firefox launched version 1.5 of its browser and at the same time announced a "stratgic partnership" with Yahoo in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Yahoo will now distribute Firefox 1.5 in those markets and will be the default search engine on Firefox 1.5 in each of those countries.

Previously, Google was the default engine for these versions of Firefox.

I just downloaded the U.S. package of Firefox 1.5 and Google was still the homepage.

Posted by Gary Price at 3:39 PM | Permalink

November 22, 2005

Google and Yahoo talking to CBS About a "Slew" of Video Opportunities

Although this Reuters article is headlined: CBS says in talks with Google for video search, it also points out that CBS has also been talking with Yahoo about video search and on-demand video.

“We’re talking to them about a whole slew of things including video-on-demand, including video search,” [CBS chairman Leslie] Moonves told Reuters in an interview regarding Google, ahead of Reuters’s Media and Advertising Summit next week...CBS’s discussions have not been restricted to Google and have also included talks with Yahoo, although deals with none of them have yet been struck.

It's worth noting that the recent availability of the premiere episode of "What About Chris" on Google Video came via a deal with UPN. This network is owned by the parent of CBS, Viacom.

At the moment, multimedia engines like BlinkxTV make some news content from CBS available. Other multimedia engines ncluding AOL Video Search also offers programming (clips, previews, behind the scenes material) from HBO, CNN, and others. HBO, CNN, and AOL are all owned by Time Warner.

Postscript: Actually, CBS already has a video content deal with Yahoo for news content It was announced in May when Yahoo Video Search left beta.

Posted by Gary Price at 2:45 PM | Permalink

November 10, 2005

Yahoo No Longer Bidding for Piece of AOL

Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report that Yahoo is no longer interested in getting a piece of the AOL pie.

After we learned what their proposed deal terms were, we passed and we've never looked back," a Yahoo spokeswoman said on Thursday, confirming a report in the Wall Street Journal.

She denied that the company had made an offer for AOL but confirmed that Yahoo Chief Executive Terry Semel met with Time Warner chairman Richard Parsons in October.

The full text of that Wall Street Journal article is here. This week acccess is free to non-subscribers.

The article reports that AOL is still in talks with Microsoft and Google/Comcast.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:55 AM | Permalink

November 7, 2005

Microsoft Said Leading The Race For Part Of AOL

Many Suitors, and Pitfalls, as AOL Seeks a Partner from the New York Times says Microsoft is now the "front runner" in a potential sale of a stake in AOL.

The article highlights comments from Microsoft chair Bill Gates last week saying that interest is more about having a "greater role" in the future of advertising, suggesting as we and others have said before, that this may be more about landing increased distribution for Microsoft's new paid search program but outing AOL's current partner, Google.

The article also says the AOL-Google deal is up for renewal each year. If so, that's news to me. AOL has never said how long the last deal it signed with Google would last, but it was very, very clear when I talked to them about the deal when renewed in October 2003 that it was a multiyear agreement.

My best estimate has been that the deal would be up for renewal in October of this year, since past deals have typically lasted about two years.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:02 PM | Permalink

October 31, 2005

IBM, Google Partner on Enterprise Search

IBM plans to integrate its OmniFind corporate search system with Google's free desktop search and make the package available to enterprise search customers. Infoworld reports:

By linking the IBM enterprise search system with Google's PC search tool, users will be able to search for information not only on corporate repositories, such as databases, content management systems, applications and the open Web, but also on their desktops.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 2:47 PM | Permalink

Google Working on Open Office, After All

Despite recent articles claiming that a Sun-Google hosted desktop productivity suite and common operating system, "is way off base," word comes today that Google plans to hire programmers to improve OpenOffice.org, the Sun developed Microsoft Office counterpart.

It sounds like a typical tentative first-step for Google. From the News.com article:

"We want to hire a couple of folks to help make OpenOffice better," DiBona said.

Google has shown an affinity for open-source software, which are programs developed in the open and available for free. Many of the company's programmers came of age in the open-source era, so advancing the open-source agenda comes naturally, DiBona said. But the company also has business reasons to justify its open-source embrace.

"We use a fair amount of open-source software at Google. We want to make sure that's a healthy community. And we want to make sure open source preserves competitiveness within the industry," he said.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 2:35 PM | Permalink

October 25, 2005

Talk of Sun-Google Hosted Productivity Suite: "Way off Base"

The eWeek article: Rumors of Sun-Google Hosted Desktop Suite Quashed, offers a look at the constant (the article users the word "rampant") specultation about a Sun-Google hosted desktop productivity suite and common operating system, "is way off base."

From the article: Insiders with knowledge of the joint plans to promote and enhance the OpenOffice.org desktop productivity suite say it is far more likely that Sun and Google will find ways to promote both OpenOffice.org and Google Toolbar, including having Toolbar included as part of OpenOffice.org, StarOffice, and even OpenSolaris and Sun's branded Solaris products...John Loiacono, executive vice president for software at Sun, has said that possible future collaboration projects under discussion with Google include work on OpenOffice. org, as well as cooperative arrangements in which each company will point its customers to the other's technology. "This is just Phase 1 of a multiphase approach," he told eWEEK.

Posted by Gary Price at 1:04 AM | Permalink

October 4, 2005

Sun To Distribute Google Toolbar & Closer Relationship Beween Two; McNealy Says, "Lots of Money Flowing Both Ways if We Do This Right"

The Google and Sun Microsystems press conference is over and word is that Google and Sun have announced a "multiyear" strategic relationship for Google to cross-promote their technologies. Bottom line: another potential jolt to Microsoft software dominanance especially, MS Office. The relationship will begin with the optional inclusion (not yet available) of the Google Toolbar in upcoming downloads of the Java Runtime Environment. Financial terms were not disclosed but Sun CEO, Scott McNealy said, "There is going to be a lot of money flowing both ways if we do this thing right."

Here's a review of some of the press coverage to this point:

For the most part, the blogosphere is underwhelmed by the news, according to News.com

You mean Google makes an annoucement and it wasn't a big deal from the get go? Say it isn't so. (-:

• Watch the Press Conference
• Press Release

Key Facts and Quotes: + As part of the agreement, Sun will include the Google Toolbar as an option in downloads of the Java Runtime Environment from Java.com. The new functionality will be available soon.

+ Due to the popularity of Java on the desktop, downloads of Java have more than doubled year over year, reaching 20 million per month.

+ The distribution of Java and the Google Toolbar underscores Google's advocacy of Java technology.

+ The agreement between Sun and Google also kicks off further collaboration between the companies on projects like OpenOffice.org, the open source productivity suite that is the world's leading suite on the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) and Linux--and the leading alternative suite on Microsoft Windows.

+ "Working with Google will make our technologies available more broadly, increase options for users, lower barriers, and expand participation worldwide." --Scott McNealy, CEO Sun

NOTE: You can already register by email and be notified when the Google Toolbar for the Java Desktop will be available. From the looks of it, the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer (kind of ironic) will be the version distributed by Sun. Sorry Firefox fans (at least for now). Scott

Sun CEO Scott McNealy said the toolbar, "will appear in weeks if not days."

From Reuters: Financial terms were not disclosed. "There is going to be a lot of money flowing both ways if we do this thing right," McNealy said.

From AP: Eventually, the Java component could be offered to users who download the free toolbar that offers quick access to Google search, spell checking and a popup blocker.

From Forbes.com: "We believe that this heavily promoted [Sun and Google] announcement is overblown, and does not represent a real definitive product threat to Microsoft's Office," S&P Equity Research. The Sun and Google partnership is "primarily as an enhanced distribution platform for each company," the research firm said.

From The Register: The problem, however, is that even Google freaks - the types who would be excited if the ad broker started conducting mandatory, aggressive anal probes under the Fistoogle brand - won't find much to cheer here.* They've already got the Google toolbar, and are tooling around like, well, you know. For its part, Sun already serves up more than 20m downloads of Java per month. Will the availability of the Google toolbar - something already available from Google - make people want to download Java more? No, this deal centers more around the obvious - marketing.

* Wow, that's one strong comment. Comment of the year? It's a contender. (-:

From News.com John Loiacono, Sun's executive vice president for software. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that what separates the Toolbar distribution deal from others the company has is the "vastness" of it.

Google also committed to buying more Sun servers, though Schmidt refused to detail how many or what type. That's significant, given the search giant's prestige as an Internet company and its reliance so far on machines it has built itself. Pending agreement of project programmers, Sun will add a Google search bar to OpenOffice.org, an office software suite Sun turned into open-source software in 2000.

Posted by Gary Price at 2:53 PM | Permalink

October 3, 2005

Google Plans to Partner With Sun

Another week and another partnership for Google. This time it involves Sun, not the star but the computer company. Of course, with Google's new deal with NASA, maybe Larry, Sergey and Eric have some a plan to harness the power of the Sun (we do know they have power issues) and Sun Microsystems is also involved. Ok, sorry, enough of me trying to be funny. Beta News and others are reporting that Google and Sun Microsystems will announce a collaboration project during a press conference tomorrow morning at The Computer History Museum in San Jose.

The press conference will begin at 10:30am PDST/1:30pm EDST and will be webcast here. Btw, when Google Earth launched Google registered the domain GoogleSun.com.

Postscript: News.com speculates on what might be announced saying that it, could shift personal computing out of Microsoft's domain and into Google's." Wow, that's a lot of speculation. Much of the talk about what's up focuses around Google and Sun doing something together with Sun's free, open source, OpenOffice software suite.

Posted by Gary Price at 6:54 PM | Permalink

August 18, 2005

iVillage Dumps Google for Yahoo

Media Post's: Google Out, Yahoo! In At iVillage, reports that the popular portal aimed for women will soon move from Google to Yahoo to power contextual, keyword-based advertising and its site search tool. Look for Yahoo ads and search on iVillage beginning on September 1st. In June, we blogged about the Washington Post also switching from Google to Yahoo.

Posted by Gary Price at 12:58 PM | Permalink

July 28, 2005

Official: Google & Univision Partner

We wrote last month about how there was a partnership coming between Google and Spanish-language broadcaster Univision coming. In fact, it was visible to anyone visiting the Univision site. Now the marriage is official. The two have issued a press release announcing a multiyear partnership bringing Google's search results and ads to the Univison site.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 12:05 PM | Permalink

July 5, 2005

Google CEO Schmidt Visits China; Interest In Baidu Buyout?

Google hovers as Baidu readies IPO from TheDeal.com covers how Google CEO Eric Schmidt has been spotted recently in China meeting with officials of the Chinese Baidu search engine. Google owns a 4 percent stake of that service, which is  to be the most used in the country. Google confirms he was there but wouldn't say the visit revolved around buying more of Baidu or another homegrown service. Figures on popularity I've seen seem to come primarily from research service iResearch. The free report they provide on the search market in China for 2004 doesn't show these figures. They may be in the paid version. This article says Baidu has 33 percent of the search marketing in China, "outpacing" any other competitors. But Google's listed not that far back in third place, at 22 percent. Second place isn't cited.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 11:15 AM | Permalink

June 29, 2005

Google and T-Mobile Announce Partnership

A Reuters story reports that Google and T-Mobile are announcing a partnership that will make Google the preset homepage when a T-Mobile customer opens their mobile web browser.

"With the Google homepage we want to tell our customers from the first moment that they are carrying with them the Internet they know from home," T-Mobile board member Ulli Gritzuhn said at a news conference at T-Mobile's headquarters.

The news release also mentions that Google and T-Mobile will work together to market mobile access to the Internet.

The full text of the news release is available here.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:13 AM | Permalink

June 28, 2005

Google Web Results, Advertising Begin Appearing on Univision Site

I posted an item yesterday that a deal between Google and Spanish language broadcaster Univision, was in the works. The article that I pointed to mentioned that the partnership would be coming next month. Well, it looks like partnership has already begun.

If you run a web search from the Univision site, you'll now find web results "optimizado por Google." Results pages also contain sponsored links from Google. It's also possible to search English language material from the interface. You'll even find lists of popular Spanish language queries.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:10 AM | Permalink

June 27, 2005

Google and Spanish Language Broadcaster Univision Plan Partnership

Nacho over at Search Engine Rountable points to a story from Crain's New York Business that includes a small mention about Google and Spanish language broadcasting powerhouse Univision, forming a partnership to "do page searches" in Spanish.

Expected to start in the next month, the partnership has the potential to develop Spanish-language listings and key words, and could encourage more advertisers to translate their Web sites into Spanish.

Posted by Gary Price at 7:16 PM | Permalink

June 14, 2005

Google Software Gets Bundled

BetaNews is reporting that Google has a deal with WinZip to bundle both of these pieces of software with downloads of the popular utility.

WinZip quietly updated its download executable last week, which now weighs in at close to 4MB with the added Google tools. Users are given the opportunity to opt out of installing the Google software on the first WinZip setup screen; by default the tools are installed.

This is not the first time Google software has been bundled. As the article points out (we also blogged the news last month), you'll also find Google software included with downloads of InterVideo's DVD duplication software and with RealNetworks RealPlayer. Yahoo bundles its toolbar with downloads of Adobe Acrobat and Macromedia Flash.

Posted by Gary Price at 5:10 PM | Permalink

WashingtonPost.com Says Goodbye to Google and Hello to Yahoo

In case you haven't noticed, web search and keyword ads on the popular online news site, WashingtonPost.com (also my hometown paper) are now powered by Yahoo.

This recent Forbes.com story points out that Yahoo "may have won" the Washington Post business, based on information from Standard & Poor's Equity Research. S&P tells us it spotted a switchover at the Washington Post site on Sunday, causing it to issue the guidance.

Posted by Gary Price at 12:19 PM | Permalink

June 1, 2005

Tiscali's UK Portal Now Using Google Web Results

Netimperative reports that as of today the search function at the Tiscali UK portal is now using, or perhaps better said "enhanced" with Google results.

Posted by Gary Price at 8:54 AM | Permalink

May 12, 2005

Dogpile Gets New Look, Overlap Comparison Tool & Study

Dogpile has released a significant upgrade to its meta search engine, allowing easy comparison of search results across the major search engines. Dogpile has also introduced a new comparison tool that visually illustrates search engine overlap (or lack thereof) in the top results for Ask Jeeves, Google and Yahoo.

In today's SearchDay article, Dogpile Enhances Meta Search, Offers Comparison Tools, I take an in-depth look at these new services, and also comment on some new research that quantifies search engine overlap and why it's important for both searchers and search marketers alike.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 1:39 PM | Permalink

May 5, 2005

DVD Software Company Announces Bundling Deal with Google

Dow Jones has a brief article about InterVideo, the company that develops and sells WinDVD Creator, DVD Copy, and Media One announcing a bundling deal with Google. According to the story and this news release, Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search will be "incorporated" into their products.

Two other bundling deals that quickly comes to mind are + Google's deal with Real Networks + Yahoo and Adobe

Posted by Gary Price at 1:11 PM | Permalink

May 4, 2005

UK: Local Directory Publisher Inks Deal With Google To Sell AdWords

Revolution reports that Google has signed an agreement with Thomson, a major player in the UK directory business to sell AdWords. According to the article, the Thomson sales force of more than 500 sales-reps will soon be hitting the streets selling AdWords to small and medium size businesses.

Google AdWords is an integral part of its ThomsonLocal.com online directory and WebFinder.com search engine marketing offerings...Thomson can send link click-throughs directly to a business's website or to a specially created information page on ThomsonLocal.com for businesses without a web presence.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:16 AM | Permalink

May 3, 2005

Google Signs Deal for Content With InfoUSA

This Dow Jones story and a news release alert us to the fact that Google has just signed a content deal with Omaha-based InfoUSA to license their business database for use with Google Local.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

InfoUSA is a well-known and respected player in the business info marketplace. They provide a variety of databases to marketers, libraries, and others. They also offer a free online telephone lookups (white and yellow pages) for people and businesses.

Yahoo Local has been using data from InfoUSA for a long time. For example, note the "some business information provided by InfoUSA" at the bottom of this Yahoo Local results page.

In addition to compiling business listings, InfoUSA spends time verifying and updating each listing in their database.

Posted by Gary Price at 1:01 PM | Permalink

April 21, 2005

Google Local Partners With AccuWeather

Just checked the weather at AccuWeather? Google Local is now over there, in the company's first outsourcing of Google Local to a partner. For example, here's the local forecast page for Newport Beach, California. Look in the upper-right hand corner, and you'll see the ability to do a local business search now powered by Google. So go find that local pizza place (I like Gina's), get a slice and sit in the sun.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:38 AM | Permalink

April 18, 2005

TiVo Talks to Google and Yahoo

Can you name another service that here in America that has become a verb as quickly as Google has? I can, it's TiVo.

Stefanie Olson and Richard Shim at News.com report in TiVo courts search giants that unnamed sources are saying that the digital video recording company is in talks with both Yahoo and Google about some type of partnership. Another source says that TiVo is also talking to both companies about a possible equity investment. No one from TiVo, Google, or Yahoo would comment on the story. Stay tuned. (-:

Last month, TiVo announced a major partnership with Comcast (a major cable tv company in the U.S.), that will allow Comcast customers that opportunity to use TiVo services.

"...a TiVo deal might allow Google or Yahoo users to find video files on the Web and then watch them on their televisions. Web surfers might provide some personal information, including their TiVo serial box number, in order to download video directly to their TiVo box. A credit card number might also be required, if the video had an associated fee. TiVo would collect a share of the fees from either customer payment or from advertising-supported video."

On a related note (in the sense that it involves video) is news that Sony Pictures Entertainment will announce that they will soon begin building a digital library of its film content.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:23 AM | Permalink

April 4, 2005

Google's First Venture Into Television

Soon, getting buzz on Google might also get you a mention on a new web-based television channel.

In the past hour or so, a new web-based TV station called Current (formerly known as INdTV) was introduced in San Francisco. Former Vice President Al Gore (remember when he visited the Googleplex?) is chairman of the network. Gore and and group of investors purchased INdTV from Vivendi in May.

So, where does Google get involved?

Current will use Google search data and Google Zeitgeist lists for "Google Current" segments that will air each half-hour.

From the Current launch press release (PDF format):

Thirty seconds to three minutes in length, these segments buck conventional news practices by reporting not on what media editors decide is ?news,? but on the topics people are actually searching for right now.

?We?re pleased to collaborate with the entire Current team to help this network make the world?s information more accessible,? said Sergey Brin, Google?s co-founder and president of Technology.

?Current is an exciting new direction for TV programming that enables any viewer to have the opportunity to broadcast their video to the world,? said Larry Page, Google?s co-founder and president of Products.

The release also has more details on the service.

No word if the segments will be searchable on Google Video (-:

Current is targeting the 18-34 market and will debut on August 1, 2005.

Posted by Gary Price at 3:17 PM | Permalink

March 17, 2005

Getting Answers From Answers.com's CEO

The answer man from News.com has GuruNet CEO Bob Rosenschein -- whose company runs Answers.com -- answering some questions of his own, such why the company will succeed at making money this time, when it failed previously, how it's not competing with other search engines, even though some think it is.

As for search engines having "lists" built into their DNA, that DNA has long been evolving into direct answers, as we've written before. In other words, some people assume that Answers.com is somehow going to wipe out search engines by providing direct answers. The search engines are doing that now, have been doing it and are growing it even more. Our forum thread Who knows Answers.com? looks at this more, with comments from me.

The key thing everyone needs to understand is that search engines are not about spidering 8 billion pages anymore, as Rosenschein puts it. They are evolving into providing answers from spidering or from gather that from any other source that fulfils the role of answering questions. My Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Developments With Consumer Search article examines this more.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:47 AM | Permalink

March 8, 2005

Google and Answers.com Announce Ad Deal

Word this morning that Gurunet (the parent of Answers.com) and Google have signed a deal that will place Google AdSense advertising on Answers.com pages.

Gurunet also announced that they're now offering a co-branded and integrated version of Google on their site.

Links are located in a box labeled "search" on the left side of pages.

Answers.com provides web results via a co-branded page. You'll also see links to Google Images and Google News. Direct links to weblog content from Technorati and product search from Amazon.com are also available.

At the beginning of this year, Answers.com began providing Google with dictionary definitions and other material linked from Google serp.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:22 AM | Permalink

March 1, 2005

The Google/Firefox Relationship

Ingrid Marson's ZDNet article: Google keeping the wolf from Firefox' door, offers several details about the Google's relationship with the Mozilla Foundation.

Gervase Markham, a Mozilla staff member, said on Sunday that over the past year the Foundation has hired around 10 people, which would not have been possible without the money that Firefox makes by linking to Google.

"The Google deal has provided a significant stream of income for the Foundation," said Markham, speaking at the FOSSDEM conference in Brussels. "Without that deal the Foundation would not have been in a position to have hired some of the people that it has."

Following an agreement reached last year, Firefox includes Google as the default option for users wanting to search the Web directly, and also has its default start page hosted by Google. Markham didn't reveal full details of the Foundation's deal with Google. The main disadvantage of the deal with Google is that native language versions of Firefox are not permitted to change the default search engine to one that is more useful for searching Web pages in a particular language. "That [the Google deal] is why official localised builds are not allowed to change the search engine," said Markham. "In one way this is a restriction, but the deal has allowed things to happen."

Posted by Gary Price at 3:45 PM | Permalink

February 25, 2005

Googlebar For Firefox, Plus The Google & Firefox Deal

Last week, when Google rolled out the latest version of its toolbar, I was dumbfounded that a Firefox version still wasn't offered. What's the deal?

After all, Google is the default search engine within Firefox. Also by default, Firefox starts you off at a page with Google's search box front and center. And Google is the company that seems to keep hiring Firefox developers. How about a little Google love for the up-and-coming browser, such as with an edition of the Google Toolbar for it?

As it turns out, Google says it hasn't felt it needed to create its own tool because of the handy Googlebar tool that's already been developed by others.

"There is the Googlebar, and we've been respectful of the fact they've done a very good rendition," said Marissa Mayer, Google's director of consumer web products. "It's one reason we feel the Firefox community has already been serviced."

Chris Sherman's written about this extremely good clone of the Google Toolbar before. I've even mentioned in way in the past. Nevertheless, I somehow I had a brain funk when I complained earlier this month about missing Google Toolbar features in an all-in-one package.

Google helped cure that with a new special page that's now up which managed to shake me out of my forgetfulness on Googlebar. Detecting that I was visiting the Google Toolbar page with Firefox, they redirected me earlier this week to a new page that promotes the Googlebar option. Dirson's noticed it too this week, pointing to where the change is being discussed. Google says the change happened late last week.

Googlebar doesn't have the PageRank meter, an essential tool for many search marketers. Don't worry. My Closer Look At Yahoo Toolbar For Firefox explains how to get a PageRank meter via a plug-in and summarizes some other nice Firefox search features that Chris has written about before, at the end.

Meanwhile, what about Firefox being so friendly with Google? How did that happen?

"That is a business relationship that we fostered alongside of Firefox. They really felt we were the best search engine and were interested in providing a good user experience," Mayer said.

Though she didn't reveal specific terms, she said it encompassed a variety of things, such as hosting the Firefox start up page (which will increasingly grow in traffic and bandwidth demands) plus distribution gains for Google by being a favorite in the browser.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 5:22 PM | Permalink

February 15, 2005

VNU Chooses AdSense

Word in a Reuters story that Google has landed another large client for AdSense. VNU Business Media (Billboard, AdWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, and many trade publications) will now use AdSense on their web sites. A bit more info in the news release.

Posted by Gary Price at 9:44 AM | Permalink

February 10, 2005

GooglePedia? Google Wants to Help the Wikipedia

A post at Dirson kicked off a Slashdot discussion about Google offering to host "some" Wikimedia content. What this precisely means is not spelled out. A post on the Wikimedia wiki says that "terms" of the offer are being discussed and that a private IRC meeting is scheduled for March. It also mentions that Google's offer "does not mean" there will be a requirement to include advertising on Wikimedia sites. Stay tuned.

Wikipedia and other Wikimedia content is currently accessible via Google from one of the many services that host the content. Wikipedia material is also included with many of the dictionary definitions linked to each search term via Google's new relationship with Answers.com. The new MSN engine offers "direct answers" powered with material from Microsoft's Encarta encyclopedia. Yahoo! provides material from the Columbia Encyclopedia on a serp when a shortcut (the word "facts") begins the query string. The encyclopedia can also be searched on the Yahoo Reference site.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:01 PM | Permalink

January 25, 2005

Google CEO Schmidt To Speak At MSN Advertiser Summit

Last year, some jaws were dropping over MSN inviting competitor Yahoo's CEO Terry Semel to speak to its major advertisers. Time for some more jaws to hit the floor. This year, Google CEO Eric Schmidt will be giving a talk.

Inviting Semel last year really wasn't that odd, given that Yahoo is also a major MSN partner, providing it with the bulk of its ads. Bringing in Schmidt? It certainly makes it seem like MSN's not playing favorites. Yahoo will also be back, in the form of Yahoo-owned Overture president Ted Meisel.

The event is the annual MSN Strategic Account Summit, running from March 15-17. Schmidt and Meisel are taking part on the second day. Didn't get an invite? Then you'd better spend a lot more money with MSN, because that's who this is for -- top advertisers spending the big bucks.

Search marketers, on offer will be the MSN Search Insights session, described as: "We will discuss case studies on the best use of search engine marketing and most recent updates on MSN Search."

I'd expect this mainly a look at how paid search works on MSN, through Overture purchases and its own programs. And perhaps this may be when some advertisers will learn of any expansions to that program, which have been rumored.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:24 AM | Permalink

January 21, 2005

More On FAST Beats Google For AOL Local

Our AOL Search: Playing In the Big Leagues Now on the new AOL Search release commented on FAST being selected over Google to power upcoming changes to AOL's local search service. Google bypassed in search deal from the Boston Globe takes a closer look at the win by FAST.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 2:29 PM | Permalink

December 13, 2004

Shopping.Com UK and Google Extend Deal

Word in a SEC EDGAR filing from Shopping.com that they've extended a distribution deal with Google.

On December 7, 2004, Shopping.com UK Limited ("Shopping.com UK"), a subsidiary of Shopping.com Ltd., and Google, Inc. ("Google") entered into a Google Services Agreement (the "GSA") whereby Shopping.com UK will participate in Google's sponsored links program in the U.K., and will display merchant listings from Google's advertisers on the "Featured Resources" section of its U.K. service. Pursuant to the terms of the GSA, Shopping.com UK will generate revenues when consumers click through these listings to the Google advertisers' websites. The GSA is effective through November 30, 2006. Shopping.com UK may terminate the GSA on October 31, 2005 by providing at least 30 days prior written notice to Google.

Shopping.com UK had a prior agreement with Google in the United Kingdom that accounted for 2% of Shopping.com Ltd.'s 2003 revenues...

Posted by Gary Price at 6:58 PM | Permalink

December 2, 2004

Google: Fortune's Cover Story

The December 13, 2004 issue of Fortune arrived today with Brin and Page on the cover. It asks the question, "Is this company worth $165 a share. The full text of the article is also online but requires a Fortune subscription.

John points out that a "web only" interview with Google's CEO Eric Schmidt, is available to non-subs.

Here's a quick review of the article and a few quotes:

Fred Vogelstein's opens the article explainig that one reason many people like Google these days, it's making them money.

The next section looks at how Google is able to innovate. "[Google is] constantly tweaking its signature search product and all its offshoots at a rapid rate. It might not have the impregnable wall against competitors that its blue-chip peers in tech have—digital auction house eBay with its network effect or Microsoft with its desktop monopoly—but it's trying to build something comparable through quick and easy-to-use innovations that keep surfers coming back."

+ A look at what Yahoo, MS, and Amazon are up to.

+ Overview about how Google makes money with both paid ads on search result pages and contextual advertising. SeatGuru.com is mentioned. AdSense ads have made it a $120,000 year business.

"Google's goal is to get as deeply meshed as possible with advertising customers. It already handles online advertising for most of the FORTUNE 100, corporate giants with multimillion-dollar ad budgets like Citigroup, Sony, and Wal-Mart. Its ambition is to go further, cataloging every product a big company has and then advertising each one of them with unprecedented efficiency on the web."

Vogelstein offers up a few graphs about how Brin, Page, Schmidt, and the Google culture. He writes, "there seems to be a method to the madness.

A list of a few Gogleplex perks: + Food (we read about this one all of the time) + Free Laundry + Banking

We read about Google starting meetings at 7 minutes past the hour. Why? "It was my {Eric Schmidt] idea because that's how college works," Schmidt says. Classes often begin at 9:05 or 9:10."

Next, a look at Google's recruiting efforts: "A team of nearly 50 recruiters divided by specialty combs through résumés, which applicants must submit online, then dumps them into a program that routes those selected for interviews to the proper hiring committee and throws the rest in the electronic trash. Interviewing for a job is a grueling process that can take months. Every opening has a hiring committee of seven to nine Googlers who must meet you. Engineers may be asked to write software or debug a program on the spot. Marketers are often required to take a writing test. No matter how long you have been out of school, Google requires that you submit your transcripts to be considered. The rigorous process is important partly for the obvious reason that in high tech, as on Wall Street, being the smartest and the cleverest at what you do is a critical business advantage."

Vogelstein then offers a pagagraph or two about how the company has deals with customers. "Some customers still complain. One says that doing a simple deal with Google is harder than doing a complicated deal with Microsoft. But others who used to gripe about Google's disorganization say there's actually been some improvement....Says another executive who has done business with Google: "They're less arrogant, and they listen better."

Near the end of the article Vogelstein writes, "For all its impressive technology and verve, Google, as noted earlier, has no such clear competitive advantage. That may help explain why?as was true during the late, great dot-com bubble?many insiders are rushing for the exits. Three top executives, engineering chief Wayne Rossing, general counsel David Drummond, and human resources chief Shona Brown, said in SEC filings at the end of November that they had sold blocks of stock worth millions of dollars."

Posted by Gary Price at 5:27 PM | Permalink

November 12, 2004

Google Makes Deal with Another Yellow Pages Provider

Another search advertising/yellow pages deal to report.

We learn in the Forbes article: Google, Dex Media Deal A Win-Win that the search company has struck a "content-sharing agreement" with yellow page directory provider, Dex Media.

Goldman Sachs told customers today, Dex's advertisers receive added exposure via the online distribution capabilities of Google, while Google's users receive access to relevant local content. We believe this agreement, along with the company's other online initiative WebClicks, help to alleviate some investor concern regarding the competitive threat posed by the Internet to print-based yellow page publishers.

The Google/Dex Media deal is a one-year agreement and can be renewed upon expiration.

Dex is the exclusive publisher of the Yellow Pages and White Pages directories for Qwest in the 14 states where Qwest is the local exchange carrier.

At the end of October, Google announced a deal with Bell South to sell Google ads. See: BellSouth Will Sell Google Ads and Google-BellSouth Partnership -- Not Quite Revolutionary.

Posted by Gary Price at 3:03 PM | Permalink

November 3, 2004

Large Publisher Comments on Working with Google

The UK's Daily Mail reports that publisher and database provider, Reed Elsevier "has called a truce" with Google. I wonder if Google knows that they were feuding? Reeds's CEO, Patrick Crisp, says both companies need to work together.

"For the last year or two we have had a lot of discussion over whether Google is an ally or a competitor,' he said. 'But there is a logic to working with Google in one or two areas. Google brings its size and we bring our content."

Fine, toss some of your content into a large database and people might buy it. A sale is sale. In most cases, the searcher will only find the abstract and then have to pay for the full text. Many publishers are working with Google to add their material. Where these records fall on a search results page is another issue. They MIGHT turn up if the searcher knows the exact title of an article but subject searching is something else. Every web page can't be in the first 10-20 results.

Also, people might end up paying for material that they can access for free from their university or public library since Reed is also selling full access to these organizations. The searcher might even be able to find a free copy of an article if the author is allowed to place a copy on their own web site.

However, Reed's databases like LexisNexis not only offer content unavailable (to this point) elsewhere but they also offer what many vertical search tools offer:

+ Access points to material that are not available from general web engines. + Advanced search features that some users find useful and are willing to pay for. + As general web databases grow larger (more and more pages) using a smaller, more focused database, can pontentially save the searcher time and aggravation. + People can't use what they don't know about. It's a marketing issue for Reed and others. It's also a challenge to change the habits of the searcher. That said, showing how a database can save them time is a perfect way to begin. + Factiva's (another online data aggregator) CEO, Clare Hart, said in June, "Our customers recognize the value in the comprehensive service they're getting and the time that they are saving. Time is one of the most important assets to business people." Hart also mentions that info quality counts. She's right.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 2, 2004

Google-BellSouth Partnership -- Not Quite Revolutionary

AdAge examines the new Google-BellSouth deal to explain why the two partnered: Why the Google-BellSouth Yellow Pages Deal Happened.

Frankly, there's nothing that revealing in it. Yep, Google gets to tap into BellSouth's sales force and its contacts with local advertisers. BellSouth gets to tap into a growing awareness among local advertisers that they want to be online.

But this isn't revolutionary stuff, from what I can see. The cards have been on the tables for over a year that the two groups -- search engines and yellow pages -- would need to partner. The key question is whether those yellow pages, in partnering with the search engines, will be able to keep the advertisers with them directly over the long term.

Here's another thing to consider. What's to prevent Google or Yahoo down the line from doing a print version of their ads? Heck, they've got enough advertisers and brand recognition. Given the number of print yellow pages already out there, perhaps the Google Yellow Pages or the Yahoo Yellow Pages might do well as something new.

Finally, hype check. This isn't a first from what I've seen so far nor a "new era" as AdAge calls it. BellSouth already partnered with LookSmart last year to do a similar bundling deal.

What alarmed me about that deal was the emphasis on buying clicks. It suggests that the local merchants are being told, "Trust us -- people will see your ad, it's not costing much, and this is a low risk way to get started."

What's wrong with that? I guess in an age when search marketing has evolved toward good tracking, a focus on measuring conversions and so on, the idea of pitching just "clicks" seems a regressions. And from what I can see, the new Google-BellSouth deal may be more of the same. I'm guessing it will apparently feed into BellSouth's Real Search Engine Solutions offering, judging from the Google press release.

For more background on local search and the move by search engines into it, see my local search series from last year.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 1, 2004

Microsoft Help Promotes Google Web Search

Doing some news catch up and came across this interesting item from InfoWorld last week: Google helps promote Windows XP.

It's about how Microsoft's Partner Pack For Windows is promoting the Google Deskbar. That's Google DeskBAR, which lets you search the web from any application rather than the recently released Google DeskTOP, which lets you search your computer for information.

Google and Microsoft are both locked in a pretty heated battle to win the hearts and minds of searchers, of course. So seeing Microsoft help Google on one of the fronts of the search wars -- web search -- is odd to say the least.

Microsoft plans to release its own web search technology by the end of this year. Search Engine Watch also reported back in August that Microsoft's new desktop search would be out by the end of this year, something Microsoft reiterated during a recent earnings call. Google naturally has existing products of its own in both areas.

Still, this is the internet, and it appears coopetition survives. Folks who compete will still partner, where it makes sense. In this case, as the InfoWorld article explains, the fact Google's Deskbar tool makes use of Microsoft's .NET framework seems to trump to potential web search defections.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 20, 2004

Google And Reed Elsevier Discuss Revenue Sharing

Reed and Google in talks to share revenue Source: The Observer

Google is "in talks" with massive scientific publisher Reed Elsevier.

Under discussion is a revenue sharing plan that would see Reed Elsevier get a small payment for every visitor delivered to a Reed site.

>From the article, "Google directs its users to Reed's sites, but Reed does not now receive a share of the revenue generated by the traffic.

Google has similar revenue-sharing arrangements with other companies, but a deal with Reed would be one of the biggest of its kind. Reed could come to similar agreements with Yahoo and Microsoft."

Posted by Gary Price at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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