Consider the following Google services and tools:

1.  AdSense - to deliver ads relevant to the content on their sites, improving their ability to generate revenue and enhancing the experience for their users. 
2.  Alerts - to receive news and search results via email.
3.  Answers - users can ask a question, set a price, and get an answer.
4.  Blog Search - to find blogs on your favorite topics.
5.  Catalogs - to search and browse mail-order catalogs.
6.  Directory - to browse the web by topic.
7.  Froogle - to shop smarter with Google.
8.  Groups - to create mailing lists and discussion groups.
9.  Images - to search for images on the web.
10.  Local - to find local businesses and services.
11. Maps - to view maps and get directions.
12. Mobile - to use Google on your mobile phone.
13. News - to search news stories.
14. Print - to search the full text of books.
15. Scholar - to search scholarly papers.
16. SMS - use text messaging for quick info.
17. University Search - to search a specific school's website.
18. Web Search - to search of web pages.

Google also offer the following the tools: Blogger for blogging; Code for downloading APIs and open source code;  Desktop for information when you want it, right on your desktop;  Earth to explore the world from your PC; Gmail for email;  Picasa to find, edit and share your photos; Talk for instant messaging and calling friends through your computer;  Toolbar to add a search box to your browser;  and Translate for viewing web pages in other languages.

If you think you've heard enough, here are some more Google ideas that are still in the beginning stages of development:

1.  Google Video for searching TV programs and videos
2.  Google Extensions for Firefox to add powerful new tools to your Mozilla Firefox browser.
3.  Personalized Search to get the search results most relevant to you.
4.  Google Web Accelerator to save time online by loading web pages faster.
5.  My Search History to easily access and manage your Google search history from any computer.
6.  Google Ride Finder to find a taxi, limousine or shuttle using real time position of vehicles.
7.  Google Suggest where Google offers keyword suggestions in real time.
8.  Site-Flavored Google Search Box for a search box that customizes results based on your website.
9.  Froogle Mobile to search for products from your mobile phone using Froogle.
10. Google Compute where users can donate their computer's idle time to help scientific research.
11. Google Sets to automatically create sets of items from a few examples.
12. Google Desktop Enterprise and Google Mini that let businesses search their internal networks using Google search technology.

Google partnerships are also everywhere.  The very recent is to offer OpenOffice from SunMicrosystems as part of Google service.  Another rumored project of Google is called the Google Wallet, the online payment system of Google.

Also, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Google Inc. and Comcast Corp. could bid as much as $5 billion to buy a minority stake in Time Warner's America Online Web site network and instant messaging businesses. 

But Google is not just into projects that will help prosper their business.  Google is establishing Google.org, a philanthropic organization with $90 million in funding, along with another $175 million in commitments to various for-profit and nonprofit entities.  Among the beneficiary of Google's generosity are: Acumen Fund, which has received $5 million to invest in market-based solutions to global poverty; TechnoServe, which builds small businesses in underdeveloped countries to create jobs and promote economic growth; A project to support research in western Kenya to identify how to prevent children from dying because of unhealthy water quality; $2 million to the One Laptop Per Child program that aims to create a $100 laptop to give to every child in developing countries. 

Like any other company, Google had its share of problems as well.  Patent cases, conflict of ideas from other sectors and security problems.  A couple years back, an Israeli security company, Finjan Software discovered a cross-site scripting flaw on two of Google's sub-sites, a problem that can be exploited with the purpose of carrying out ID thefts. Guess how fast Google fixed the problem? In less than 36 hours.  That's commitment and focus for you in full swing.

The only worry that I have in all of Google's innovation is the company might be spreading itself too thin.  While more offering presents new opportunities, it also presents new challenges and problems especially in the area of privacy and security.  As much as the company wants to be in the forefront of web technology innovation, Google should always remember that Quality should come first than Quantity.  It is better to offer some quality applications than to offer numerous subpar services and tools.  Customer satisfaction is another area that Google should always prioritize.

Now why is Google successful?  I think they have remained focussed on their objective from the very start, and that is: To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. The people of Google knows their technology, it has studied the social relevance of the web to online users, and a clear vision of what the future holds for the online community.  And the very secret - Google despite its success, have not forgotten society who have brought them where they're at right now.  Returning its blessings to the public is an open secret to all but is followed by a few.  "He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." - Proverbs 19:17.

Am logging off.  God Bless us all!!!

*****

Announcement: Former SAP marketing and communications manager Marivic Gamo is now the Director for Business Development, Marketing and Support of NEC Philippines.  Congratulations and thank you for being a true friend always.

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