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Who’s Afraid of Apple, Google, Facebook?

admin — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:07:36 +0000

GIGAOM November 26, 2010, 6:11PM EST

Timothy Wu says we should be alarmed by the monopoly powers accumulated by Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Skype, Twitter, Apple, and eBay. Why he’s wrong

By Mathew Ingram

Timothy Wu, the Columbia University law professor who coined the term “net neutrality,” is not someone to be dismissed lightly, especially when it comes to communications and media trends. In his recent book The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires—and in a related piece in The Wall Street Journal—Wu argues that just as AT&T was a monopoly during an earlier phase of communications history, companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple now hold what he calls “information monopolies” that could be just as damaging to our society.

Does he present a convincing case that this is true?

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Microsoft: Half of mobile searches have a local intent

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:20:15 +0000

BizReport : Mobile Marketing : November 15, 2010

Microsoft’s internal analysis of their mobile search query data has thrown up an interesting, yet not entirely surprising, fact about the search behavior of mobile users.

by Helen Leggatt

You’re ambling around town when suddenly you crave Chinese dumplings. You whip out your phone and after a couple of local searches you’re well on your way to getting your fix.

A similar scenario plays out day after day as mobile users refer to their devices for local information – information that will help them navigate their immediate environment and solve their real-time needs and wants.

It’s not surprising, then, to read of recent data from Microsoft that shows over half (53%) of mobile searches on Bing have a local intent.
Hence the development of ads that, quite literally, guide consumers from “search to store”. Such ads, including Google’s Expandable Map ads, appear both on the mobile web and in apps and, when clicked, provide the user with directions to a store.

“Mobile user demand for information that can be acted on in the real world, in real-time is, well, very real,” writes Search Engine Land’s Greg Sterling, who uncovered the data in a recent chat with Bing’s Director of Search, Stefan Weitz.

“That’s what this Microsoft stat reflects. If that’s not an argument for mobile advertising in general and mobile search in particular, I don’t know what is.”

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Ask.com and you won’t receive

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:51:48 +0000

By Rob Pegoraro

It may be all up to Bing now: Ask.com, the only other search engine to provide measurable competition to Google in the U.S., announced today that it would end its Web-search efforts.

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Google Adds Live Sports Results, Emergency Contacts and Instant Previews

admin — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:39:03 +0000

In another weekly installment, Google has provided an overview of updates and changes to the search engine in the past week. Since Google regularly makes several updates and launches new features, big and small, every week, it sometimes doesn’t do a full blog post announcement for all of them, hence the weekly round up.

“We’re always excited by the diversity of the search features and enhancements that we make in any given week. Each week we try to release a diverse set of search feature and enhancement to help you find what you’re looking for, faster,” Johanna Wright, Director of Search Product Management at Google, wrote.

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Google Testing “Record Calls” Feature Within Gmail

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:36:37 +0000

By: David Murphy

11.06.2010

Google is slowly unlocking a new feature for Gmail that allows users to record calls directly out of their inbox. That might sound a little strange at first, so bear with us.

Within Gmail, it’s possible to link one’s Google Voice VOiP service to one’s Inbox by first enabling the company’s Chat service on the left-hand side of Gmail’s standard interface. From there, you simply have to click on the activated “Call Phone” link, which should pop up a pretty little dial pad in the lower-right hand corner of your screen.

This is your link to Google Voice—we’re assuming you’re already rocking an account. However, you might not have the plugin you need in order to actually make a Google Voice connection via your Gmail Inbox. If that’s the case, the little dial pad will alert you to that fact and ask that you head on over to an alternate page to download and install the appropriate plugin. Do that.

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Chrome is up in the air, in the clouds, literally

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:26:58 +0000

By Paula Rooney | November 8, 2010, 7:59am PST

Google has teamed up with three major airlines to make Chrome and the Internet available free on flights through the holidays.

On Monday, the web services giant’s browser team said it has deals in place with AirTran, Delta and Virgin American to provide Gogo inflight Internet access at no cost to passengers from Nov. 20 through Jan 2, 2011.

The service — which will reportedly allow passengers to check e-mail and surf the web –n will be available on more than 700 planes.

I’d give this a 9.5 on the PR campaign scale. Business passengers have dreamed of in flight access for years and consumers are now just as hooked. Nearly every surfer knows about Internet Explorer and Firefox (the reincarnated Netscape Navigator) and Chrome has made a huge dent over the past year. This will only heighten awareness of the open source browser.

Read the rest of the story…

Google has teamed up with three major airlines to make Chrome and the Internet available free on flights through the holidays.
On Monday, the web services giant’s browser team said it has deals in place with AirTran, Delta and Virgin American to provide Gogo inflight Internet access at no cost to passengers from Nov. 20 through Jan 2, 2011.

The service — which will reportedly allow passengers to check e-mail and surf the web –n will be available on more than 700 planes.
I’d give this a 9.5 on the PR campaign scale. Business passengers have dreamed of in flight access for years and consumers are now just as hooked. Nearly every surfer knows about Internet Explorer and Firefox (the reincarnated Netscape Navigator) and Chrome has made a huge dent over the past year. This will only heighten awareness of the open source browser.

Read the rest of the story…

Obama’s India visit dominates Google search

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:55:52 +0000

Sunday, November 7, 2010, 14:50 [IST]

New Delhi, Nov 7: As the US President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama danced to celebrate Diwali with Indian students, his maiden visit to India became the most searched item on Google search engine.

Buzz up!

According to data on Google Trends, which provides insights into broad search patterns, US President’s visit to the country was the most searched item on Google India website on Saturday, Nov 6. The search history shows that Indians have searched with key words like ‘Obama visit to India’, ‘Obama in Mumbai’, ‘Obama Biography’, ‘Air Force One’ and other related topics.

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Google To Facebook: You Can’t Import Our User Data Without Reciprocity

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:20:43 +0000

First Posted: 11- 5-10 01:33 PM | Updated: 11- 5-10 01:33 PM

TechCrunch:

When you initially sign up for Facebook, you’re run through a series of prompts asking you to enter your Google account information so that Facebook can import the email addresses of your contacts. This is a very powerful feature because it helps new users instantly connect with dozens of their friends. And Google is turning it off, because it thinks Facebook isn’t playing fair.

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Top 3 tips for going global

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:55:53 +0000

BizReport : Ecommerce : November 05, 2010

by Kristina Knight

Finding local customers is increasingly important for brands, but looking a bit farther afield may be the key to continued growth. Why? Because markets outside a brand’s primary residence – like expanding to Japan from America or into Australia from Germany – creates buzz around the world. And, as consumers connect with people in other countries, it makes sense for brands to make those connections as well.

AskNet is one hub which helps brands make a global transition but Mark Begin, President of AskNet says that as with expanding to another city or state, expanding between countries should be a cautionary tale.

“Everyone wants to tout the efficiencies of the Internet, but at the same time that you’re exposing yourself to more consumers you are exposing yourself to competitors,” said Begin. “First, people have to know who you are or your brand won’t have any value at all.”

To begin the process…

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The Fascinating Things Web Crawlers Can Tell You

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:48:26 +0000

By Ronni Zehavi

TechNewsWorld

11/04/10 5:00 AM PT

Internet retailers that tap into the power of Web crawler activity can improve site performance, achieve greater returns on SEO investments, and gain advantage over competitors that remain in the dark. The greatest beneficiaries may be smaller retailers. An informed SEO strategy with the right tools and analytics can level the playing field with deep-pocketed rivals.

By Ronni ZehaviTechNewsWorld11/04/10 5:00 AM PT
Internet retailers that tap into the power of Web crawler activity can improve site performance, achieve greater returns on SEO investments, and gain advantage over competitors that remain in the dark. The greatest beneficiaries may be smaller retailers. An informed SEO strategy with the right tools and analytics can level the playing field with deep-pocketed rivals.

Read the rest of the story…

Google Instant has positive impact on CTRs, ad impressions

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:27:52 +0000

BizReport : Search Marketing : November 05, 2010

by Helen Leggatt

Google Instant is serving up more relevant ads, according to Marin Software. This is reflected in a rise of 5.6% in click-through rates.

“Google Instant was seen as a big gamble for Google when the company announced it, but it’s proved to be a positive change for the industry,” said Matt Lawson, vice-president of marketing, Marin Software.

“Google has pulled off the elusive win-win-win with the release of Instant, driving increased usability for consumers and increased volume for advertisers, while managing to increase their slice of the overall search pie in the process.”

When Marin Software, who manage search ad spending, compared ad impressions in the two weeks after the introduction of Google Instant with those in the two weeks prior, they found these, too, had risen – by 9.3%.

But is this rise due to…

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BizReport : Search Marketing : November 05, 2010

Google Instant has had a positive impact on click-through rates and ad impressions, according to recent research by Marin Software, despite earlier concerns the fast page displays would decrease traffic.by Helen LeggattGoogle Instant is serving up more relevant ads, according to Marin Software. This is reflected in a rise of 5.6% in click-through rates.”Google Instant was seen as a big gamble for Google when the company announced it, but it’s proved to be a positive change for the industry,” said Matt Lawson, vice-president of marketing, Marin Software.
“Google has pulled off the elusive win-win-win with the release of Instant, driving increased usability for consumers and increased volume for advertisers, while managing to increase their slice of the overall search pie in the process.”When Marin Software, who manage search ad spending, compared ad impressions in the two weeks after the introduction of Google Instant with those in the two weeks prior, they found these, too, had risen – by 9.3%.But is this rise due to

How one company games Google News

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:30:58 +0000

November 4, 2010 1:23 PM PDT

by Tom Krazit

Red Label News is not exactly a household name. But yesterday afternoon, it was one of the top news sources on Google News for stories about Apple’s iTunes song previews.

How’d that happen? Red Label News, it appears, is a cleverly designed collection of links and headlines meant to game Google News rankings.

CNET stumbled upon Red Label News after doing one of the most basic Google searches: the vanity search. In this case, we were attempting to figure out how many news outlets were writing about

by Tom Krazit

Red Label News is not exactly a household name. But yesterday afternoon, it was one of the top news sources on Google News for stories about Apple’s iTunes song previews.
How’d that happen? Red Label News, it appears, is a cleverly designed collection of links and headlines meant to game Google News rankings.
CNET stumbled upon Red Label News after doing one of the most basic Google searches: the vanity search. In this case, we were attempting to figure out how many news outlets were writing about