Google's doing something very interesting with all the money they're making: they're spending it. CEO Eric Schmidt promised us in January that 2006 would be a huge year for innovation, as the company geared up to launch a lineup of new products in the second and third quarter. There's plenty of speculation as to what exactly Google plans to innovate this year. The more sensible will remind the starry-eyed dreamers that the Big G will continue to do what it has been doing. Namely: 1. Making search searchier through steady improvements 2. Expand infrastructure and data centers; enhance with speed, depth, flexibility 3. Push more server-based applications to reduce reliance on traditional PCs 4. Expand advertising channels (that's where the money comes from) through video, audio, and print 5. Scare the bejeezus out of Microsoft (and eBay too) Though Google is very tight-lipped about their future plans (which regularly creates a web of wild speculation and devastating disappointments outside the Googleplex), the now publicly traded company cannot be so quiet about its money. The first-quarter report revealed some incredible expenditures. Visit http://www.webpronews.com/financial/news/wpn-64-20060421WheresGooglesMoneyGoing.html for full news.
Yes, great post. Of course it's one thing to spend the money and quite another thing to invest the money wisely on product development areas that have the potential to turn into major revenue streams. Only time will tell how well they do in that regard.
I read somewhere (maybe here?) that G acquires two or more companies per week. Maybe they are buying the confidential R&D of others. Faster that way.
For the longest time, I didn't think anyone could take over domination of the pc market from Microsoft, but the more I see it, I really see google as having this potential.