Many companies view search tools as the golden key that can make them wealthy in an instant, much like Google. This search engine has eclipsed Microsoft to become the ideal business model of the year.
Google has silenced all criticism by achieving significant revenue, surpassing even Cisco. The search service “closed the book” in 2005 by purchasing 5% of AOL shares for $1 billion.
Google has continuously launched notable services such as Google Base, music search, and upgraded its satellite imagery search tool, Google Earth. They still have ample time to introduce a messaging system and an Internet phone software named Google Talk, as well as establish a large office in London.
Google’s challenges include facing difficulties from many major publishers in the U.S. regarding plans to scan and publish millions of books online, allowing easy search access for users. Meanwhile, Microsoft occasionally releases statements and threats towards Google. CEO Steve Ballmer was even rumored to have vowed to “kill Google,” although he later denied it. Bill Gates believes that Microsoft will eventually surpass Google. For the world’s leading software company, it is unacceptable that a company founded in 1998 has become a symbol of innovation on the Internet.
Although it is an online auction company, eBay appears to be the only real competitor to Google. eBay demonstrated its robust strength by acquiring Skype, a prominent company in the VoIP sector, for $2.6 billion. eBay also closely manages Craigslist, the emerging giant in the “classifieds world,” in which they currently hold a 25% stake.
Yahoo is also proving to everyone the importance of search tools in social networking, also known as Web 2.0, by acquiring the famous bookmarking site del.icio.us and planning to merge it with Flickr, the photo-sharing service they purchased earlier this year.
However, Wikipedia truly deserves the prestigious award for search technology. This “open-source” online reference site has been rated on par with the Britannica encyclopedia in terms of accuracy, at least in the field of science.
