Gtunes and Goopons

To understand what Google does, repeat this mantra: Google is in the business of monitizing search. Anything they do (well, almost anything, they do some little things just for fun) should be viewed by how it advances their leadership in monitizing search.

For example, the Google announcement that they would offer Valpak coupons, or goopons, on Google maps extends the attractiveness of Google to searchers. When I search for pizza in Los Gatos, I not only find maps to local pizzerias, I find goopons for some of them. It also extends the attractiveness of Google to their advertisers who offer the goopons.

One thing the Google mantra implies is that they sell advertising, not stuff. If they sold stuff, they would be in competition with their advertisers, who would look elsewhere for ways to advertise, and the money to support the vast Google search machine would go away.

It came as no surprise, then, when at about the same time that Microsoft's Zune plans became public, Google announced that it did not plan to open an iTunes-like music store, which speculators had dubbed Gtunes. That would be selling stuff. Google would love to search online music inventories, but that is another story entirely. What I find amusing is that Google's "no Gtunes" announcement was just waiting to be released when Microsoft announced Zunes so Google could, again, steal some of Microsoft's thunder.

It is a wonder how the news media make a big deal even when Google says they do not plan to do something. They did it again today when Google confirmed that it had no plans to offer a national wireless internet service. Would that I could get so much attention out of announcing all the things I don't plan to do.

Copyright © 2006 Philip Bookman

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