Outsmarting Microsoft, the search giant Google has spent $1 billion to acquire 5% of AOL’s shares. But what will internet users gain (or lose) from this event? Despite the enormous sum spent to acquire AOL, Google has pledged to maintain the current state of its homepage, with no advertising banners and search results displayed objectively.
According to Google, all users will see are “tiny” advertisements appearing on the homepage and search results page. Banners will only appear on Google Video and Google Image pages.
However, there will be many connections between AOL and Google that users cannot ignore. First is the prominent link on Google Video, leading to existing video content on AOL, followed by a series of new “chat” features between AOL Instant Messenger and Google Talk.
According to Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Products and User Experience, these changes are minor and will hardly affect users. The advertisements will be smaller than thumbnails, and certainly, there will be no “flashing banners” popping up in front of you to cause annoyance.
Mayer felt the need to write this statement in response to public concerns that Google’s acquisition of a major online advertising player like AOL could compromise the objectivity of search results.
“No way. Providing accurate search functionality is our core mission. If a Google partner ranks high, it’s because they have the best answers to your search keywords, not because they have a business relationship with us.”
Regarding the integration between AIM and Google Talk in the near future, Google Talk users will be able to register for an AIM account, add their AIM nickname to their Google Talk chat list, and of course, chat with them too. This could be a positive leverage for Google Talk, a messaging service currently ranked sixth in the U.S. after AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, and Trillian.
Thien Y