When a company receives money, you’ve got to consider questions of "how much" and "who from" to figure out what sort of attention it’s owed. In the case of broadband service provider Open Range Communications, the answers are "a lot" and "a branch of the U.S. government."
More On Using Google Can Become A Habit
In last week’s Search Insider, I introduced the idea of habits, and why they can be hard things to break. This week, I want to explore how search engines can be habit-forming as well. Cognitive Lock-In
Using Google Can Become A Habit
My wife Jill was the victim of another drive-by “why-ing” — and I, of course, was the perpetrator. There’s a small specialty grocery store where we live that Jill visits every week or two. And almost every time, she complains about the experience. Outdated stock is repackaged. Food is rancid. The staff is surly. But she keeps buying there. After listening to another long-winded vent, I dared to go where no man should go. I asked her “why?” There were a number of reasons that she gave. It’s on the way on her daily route. Parking is convenient. Prices are low. But the biggest reason was one she didn’t express, because she didn’t know it. It had become a habit. And habits are tough things to break.
Will Yahoo Mail & iGoogle Become Social Networks?
Yahoo has long realized that their strength laid in their already-strong web properties: their portal and their email service.
Selling Information Will Become a High Touch Industry
Newspapers Going Free
The NYT just went free and likely the WSJ will follow. Once something goes free it is hard to start charging for it again – just ask Prince.
Publishers Will Become Interactive Media Artists
Books Are Losing Relevancy Google and Amazon are both pushing to sell ebooks directly aggressively. An article in the NYT mentions a new device Amazon will offer for reading ebooks, but I don’t think the problem with books and ebooks is that they need a better reader. Google now allows you to embed book pasages directly in web pages.
Become a Business Referral Representative for Google
Keth of Gspy points us to the Google Business Referral Representative job application page. Your mission? To assemble information on local businesses, and to convince them to add their listing to Google Maps (and to pay for Google AdWords ads). From the program FAQ:
DC Madam Phone Numbers Become Searchable
You smell that? It’s politician sweat. There were already a slew of people trying to figure out just who in Washington made the most notorious list in national history, but now, anybody can look. Somebody’s just made the DC Madam phone book searchable online.
Google.org Supports Believe Begin Become
Last week, Google announced its plans to set up shop in Kenya. Now Google.org is showing an interest in Kenya’s southern neighbor, Tanzania, and has made known its plans to participate in “Believe Begin Become – Tanzania’s National Business Plan Competition.”
Google, VW Become Partners In Crime
Google and Volkswagen have been pals for over a year, but that once-pure relationship appears to have recently devolved into a criminal partnership. It turns out that the Volkswagen home page – which is powered by a Google Search Appliance, and was also recently featured in the Google Enterprise Blog – contains some hidden text.