Google's Fixation With The Mobile Network
2007-09-28 12:48:07
It's already all over the web, Google have acquired Zingku , a mobile text and picture messaging provider. The acquisition seems to be justified considering the rumors flying around that Google is already preparing a mobile phone product.
There were some juicy reports early this year that the rumored Google mobile phone would be a "low-cost, Internet-connected phone with a color, wide-screen design." By getting Zingku, Google have increased its mobile phone social network base since Zingku already provides standard text messaging and picture messaging features to its users allowing them to create and share photos, invitations, voting polls and what they call “mobile flyers”.
Anyway we look at it, the Google mobile phone seems to be heading our way. Also this month, Google announced the availability of AdSense for mobile which allows targeted placement of mobile text ads that aimed at helping users find what they are looking for more quickly and efficiently. With the AdSense for mobile, Google have already increased its market base, from simple PC users to the mobile platform when it comes to ads.
Moreover, months earlier California based GrandCentral joined Google. GrandCentral provides web-based voice communications platform a chance to manage phones and phone numbers through a simple interface. The site gives you “one phone number for all your phones, for life.” So regardless of how many times we change jobs, homes and cell phones, the GrandCenral phone number will remain so people can keep track of you. ...more
It was in January that Steve Jobs unveiled his iPhone and it has been the talk of the whole year. So it seems that Steve Jobs' jeynote speech at the MacWorld conference is the stage for him to unveil his niftiest gadget for the year.
Rumor has it, this coming January, Jobs' is about to raise the dead. Remember the Apple Newton MessagePad back in the 90's? It wasnt as popular as the iPod or the iPhone. but it was a great gadget of its day. High-tech for its time as well but expensive as hell.
Anyways, according to the Appleinsider, Apple is planning to release another PDA next year based on the success of the iPhone's multi-touch platform which already spawned the new iPod Touch which is a big rip off methinks.
Wel, this is typically Apple's style, keep on making something eye catching that consumers would want but won't really need. Instead of making a single product that does everything, they would split it all up and make a couple of things that would repeat tasks and cover a few inches of another task. ...more
Yahoo has announced that they will be closing their Podcast directory . Apparently there is no clear nor lengthy reason, their site simply reads: "Yahoo! apologizes deeply, but we will be closing down the Podcasts site on Oct. 31, 2007." The service has been around for 2 years and allowed users to set up their own podcsting channel, search other podacsts and subscribe.
There were however rumors about Yahoo making some drastic changes in their entertainment department which includes shutting down Yahoo TV and Yahoo Music. However these have not been confirmed yet.
Users of Yahoo Podcasts can try other podcasting directories after October 31, there's Podcast.net , Pluggd and Podfeed . ...more
Well, it seems that Michael Callahan, a University of Illinois graduate and founder of Ambient, has taken the stage at yesterday's DEMO.
The Audeo technology is Callahan's baby. Here's what it does in a nutshell: a wearable sensor reads nerve impulses (neurological signals) from the brain sent to the larynx, the sensor data is sent to a computer (encrypted and wirelessly) then a program reads, translates and outputs the signal as audible speech. Details here .
Though the technology is nothing short of amazing, the technology is very basic instrumentation. It's like a digital thermometer and connecting it to a PC. The brilliance of Audeo however is in the software, take note that the nerve signal sensor has already existed in medical practices, and the signal decoder LabView from National Instruments was released more than 5 years ago. However, Callahan's software is new. ...more
Remember that crazy lawsuit filed against Google? Well here is another one of those but this guy includes Yahoo as well.
"A man currently being detained by immigration in Houston, TX has filed a lawsuit claiming Yahoo and Google stole their names from Tanzanian tribes. ... The lawsuit states that Google was taken from the Gogo tribe, and Yahoo from the Yao tribe. The claim is asking for $10,000 be paid to each tribe member for the past three generations."(Seann P. Aune, Mashable) ...more
The Wallstreet Journal reports: "Microsoft Corp. is in talks with Facebook Inc. about making an investment in the social-networking startup that could value Facebook at $10 billion or more, according to people familiar with the matter."
This piece of news gets more interesting and unveils some squabbling with another tech titan, Google. "The talks set up another likely face-off between tech titans: Google Inc. has also expressed strong interest in a possible Facebook investment, said people familiar with the matter.
Microsoft's approach to Facebook in recent weeks with proposals to invest in the fast-growing site is part of the software giant's effort to catch up with the Internet rival Google. If successful, Microsoft's talks with Facebook could give it an up-to-5% stake in the closely-held startup -- a stake potentially valued at roughly $300 million to $500 million, the people familiar with those talks said." ...more
EMC Corporation is a 20+ year old public storage company with a $40 billion market cap which was among the most hard-hit in the dotcom boom and bust.
They bought Utah-based startup backup service Mozy this weekend for $76Million. "The rationale behind EMC buying Mozy is still unclear, however. But one suspects that it would be a key component to them going after small- and medium-sized businesses, much as SoonR is doing by shifting its focus to backup-and-restore features. And although the $76 million sticker price does seem rich, EMC can afford to be lavish: it’s sitting on a windfall generated by the VMWare (VMW) IPO."(Om Malik, GigaOM)
The price tag for which Mozy was acquired is actually generous for the startup after geting $1.9Million funding last 2005, the $76Million is a 40X kickback for the investors of Mozy. ...more
Lawsuits against Google aren't anything new. But this one is simply bizare! "Pennsylvania resident Dylan Stephen Jayne is suing Google for crimes against humanity and is asking the court for $5 billion in damages. The charge: his social security number, when turned upside down and scrambled spells Google." (Read/Write Web)
That's right, petty stuff but it is in the courts and $5 billion is no joke. I would understand if Jayne was asking for a million or a couple hundred thousand and Google just might take the case lightly and end up paying him. But $5 billion is calling in the big guns.
However the case might be dismissed for its caliber of stupidity, Jayne is convinced that the Philadelphia 76ers have a key role in decoding his social security number in to "Google."
Here's the case filing against Google. ...more
Reports today have included this item that I think is much more significant than others, Google to build a trans-Pacific multi-terabit undersea communications cable. Dubbed project "Unity", the cable is planned to be completed by 2009.
Duncan Riley of TechCrunch reports, "The Unity cable has been under development for several months, and Google is said to have met with Telstra (Australia’s largest telco) and Asia Netcomm in Sydney last week. The cable would run to Australia via Guam and Hawaii.
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