1:20 PM
Roy Vicker
DATA beats opinion” has long been a mantra at Google, where evidence-based research tends to rule. But now the company is showing its softer side with Think Quarterly, a business-to-business publication whose first United States issue is to make its debut online this week.
Although Google investors remain wary of the spending and long-term intentions of the company’s taciturn new chief executive, and co-founder, Larry Page, Google reassured them in July with financial results that beat Wall Street analysts’ expectations.
Google reported second-quarter net income, excluding the cost of stock options, of $8.74 a share, up from $6.45 a year ago. Net revenue, which excludes payments to advertising partners, was $6.92 billion, up 36 percent from $5.09 billion. Analysts had expected net income of $7.86 a share and net revenue of $6.5 billion.
Google’s stock price, which has fallen 9 percent in 2011 as investors react to uncertainty about Mr. Page, ballooning expenses, challenges from Facebook and stepped-up scrutiny from federal regulators, climbed 12 percent in after-hours trading.
Recent Developments
In June 2011, Google took its biggest leap yet onto Facebook’s turf, introducing a social networking service called the Google+ project— which happens to look very much like Facebook. The service, which was initially available only to a select group of Google users who will soon be able to invite others, will let people share and discuss status updates, photos and links.
But the Google+ project would be different from Facebook in one significant way, which Google hoped would be enough to convince people to use yet another social networking service. It was designed for sharing with small groups — like colleagues, college roommates or hiking friends — instead of with all of a user’s friends or the entire Web. It also offered group text messaging and video chat.
At stake was Google’s status as the most popular entry point to the Web. When people post on Facebook, mostly off-limits to search engines, Google loses valuable information that could benefit its Web search, advertising and other products.
Google has committed $200 million to find the next Google, playing venture capitalist in the hottest market for technology start-up companies in over a decade. Other pedigreed tech companies are doing the same.
To some, it seemed a telltale sign of an overheated industry, symptomatic of a late and ill-advised rush to invest during good times. But Google said it has a weapon to guide it in picking investments — a Google-y secret sauce, which means using data-driven algorithms to analyze the would-be next big thing.
Google Ventures said it has invested as much money in the first half of 2011 as in all of 2010, and Mr. Page, who became chief executive in spring 2011, has promised to keep the coffers wide open.
Background
Founded in 1998, Google runs the world's most popular Internet search engine. It's a position that has earned Google huge profits and given it outsize influence over the online world.
But Google's ambition far exceeds the confines of Internet search and advertising. The company sees its mission as the organization of the world's information, making it universally accessible and useful.
Its unbounded ambition, as well as what many critics say is a cavalier approach to copyrights, has put Google at odds with a growing list of companies in industries ranging from Hollywood to book publishing and from telecommunications to e-commerce. And the company's appetite for collecting vast amounts of data about its users and their online habits has prompted increasing fears that Google could become a threat to consumer privacy.
Although Google investors remain wary of the spending and long-term intentions of the company’s taciturn new chief executive, and co-founder, Larry Page, Google reassured them in July with financial results that beat Wall Street analysts’ expectations.
Google reported second-quarter net income, excluding the cost of stock options, of $8.74 a share, up from $6.45 a year ago. Net revenue, which excludes payments to advertising partners, was $6.92 billion, up 36 percent from $5.09 billion. Analysts had expected net income of $7.86 a share and net revenue of $6.5 billion.
Google’s stock price, which has fallen 9 percent in 2011 as investors react to uncertainty about Mr. Page, ballooning expenses, challenges from Facebook and stepped-up scrutiny from federal regulators, climbed 12 percent in after-hours trading.
Recent Developments
In June 2011, Google took its biggest leap yet onto Facebook’s turf, introducing a social networking service called the Google+ project— which happens to look very much like Facebook. The service, which was initially available only to a select group of Google users who will soon be able to invite others, will let people share and discuss status updates, photos and links.
But the Google+ project would be different from Facebook in one significant way, which Google hoped would be enough to convince people to use yet another social networking service. It was designed for sharing with small groups — like colleagues, college roommates or hiking friends — instead of with all of a user’s friends or the entire Web. It also offered group text messaging and video chat.
At stake was Google’s status as the most popular entry point to the Web. When people post on Facebook, mostly off-limits to search engines, Google loses valuable information that could benefit its Web search, advertising and other products.
Google has committed $200 million to find the next Google, playing venture capitalist in the hottest market for technology start-up companies in over a decade. Other pedigreed tech companies are doing the same.
To some, it seemed a telltale sign of an overheated industry, symptomatic of a late and ill-advised rush to invest during good times. But Google said it has a weapon to guide it in picking investments — a Google-y secret sauce, which means using data-driven algorithms to analyze the would-be next big thing.
Google Ventures said it has invested as much money in the first half of 2011 as in all of 2010, and Mr. Page, who became chief executive in spring 2011, has promised to keep the coffers wide open.
Background
Founded in 1998, Google runs the world's most popular Internet search engine. It's a position that has earned Google huge profits and given it outsize influence over the online world.
But Google's ambition far exceeds the confines of Internet search and advertising. The company sees its mission as the organization of the world's information, making it universally accessible and useful.
Its unbounded ambition, as well as what many critics say is a cavalier approach to copyrights, has put Google at odds with a growing list of companies in industries ranging from Hollywood to book publishing and from telecommunications to e-commerce. And the company's appetite for collecting vast amounts of data about its users and their online habits has prompted increasing fears that Google could become a threat to consumer privacy.
Company Information
Google Inc. (Google) is focused on improving the ways people connect with information. The Company generates revenue primarily by delivering online advertising. The Company focuses on areas, such as search, advertising, operating systems and platforms, and enterprise. The Company maintains an index of Websites and other online content, and make it available through its search engine to anyone with an Internet connection. Businesses use its AdWords program to promote their products and services with targeted advertising. The Google Network use its AdSense program to deliver relevant ads that generate revenue and enhance the user experience. In February 2010, the Company acquired Aardvark and On2 Technologies, Inc. In May 2010, The Company acquired of AdMob, Inc. (AdMob). In August 2010, the Company acquired Slide, Inc. (Slide). In December 2010, the Company acquired Widevine Technologies, Inc. (Widevine). In April 2011, the Company acquired PushLife.
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