Search Neutrality

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New York Times: Bits: Texas Attorney General Investigates Google Search: “Given that not every Web site can be at the top of the results, or even appear on the first page of our results, it’s unsurprising that some less relevant, lower quality websites will be unhappy with their ranking” ..... The issue is front and center as Google moves into many new business areas, including local business listings, shopping comparison and travel...... Microsoft finances Foundem’s backer and that its antitrust attorneys represent the other two.

Google has become big enough that it should warrant an anti trust poke. I don't think there is any merit to this Texas cowboy approach to Google, but this tells me Google has become really big now. Looks like Microsoft might be playing some behind the scenes roles. That is unfortunate. Microsoft is losing big in mobile, and its Windows is going archaic, and you can do with Office you can do online for free these days. The idea that Bing is lagging because Google is anti competitive is whispers.

The next thing you know some of these people will want Google to make public its search algorithms. If you think SEO scheming is bad enough today, imagine what after that. Coke has its secret sauce, as does Pepsi, as does KFC. So does Google have its secret sauce.

Microsoft is not losing to Google in search. Microsoft never really was in the ring in the first place. Microsoft has an Economics major CEO. What can it expect?

Google Public Policy Blog: Texas Inquires On Our Approach To Competition: our success is earned the right way -- by building great products, not locking in our users or advertisers...... recent filings have revealed that the company’s own servers overheated, explaining their reduced traffic.

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Free Wireless Broadband, Reenergized Microsoft

• Google begins limited test of Wi-Fi service Reuters ...... "....the company was considering building a U.S. broadband network capable of targeting specific advertising to users based on the location of their Wi-Fi..."
• Microsoft Corp. reorganizes to compete better with Google, Yahoo Canadian Business

I had been thinking municipality provided wireless broadband. But Google has trumped me on that one. It has come up with an even better idea. Google provided nationwide wireless broadband. All the user have to do is download a Google toolbar onto their laptops in return. If that were to materialize, Google would grow even more like it were a hot startup. Kudos.

Bill Gates complained during the whole anti-trust legal fiasco that instead of competing with him on products, his competitors were taking him to court. Now he does not have to say that no more. Google is competition. Big G should be happy.



I think he had the option in 1995 to take the lead when a school of thought emerged within Microsoft that company should move from being Windows-centric to being browser-centric. Gates missed that boat. It is said if you learn Newton's theory of gravity too well, that actually prevents you from coming to grips with Einstein's theory of gravity.

Microsoft now has taken a step in the right direction, but it is still hesitant. Software should be online, free and ad-based. That is the leap Google is making and Microsoft is not. That is why Microsoft is not Google.