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Google Inc.

6/20/2013, 8:15 AM ET

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Wednesday, June 19, 12:24 PM Google (GOOG +0.1%) steps up its challenge to Yelp (YELP +2.3%) by showing an interactive "carousel" of businesses when PC searches are made for local info. The update follows the launch of a carousel for tablet users in December, and the January addition of Zagat listings to the Google Places API. Meanwhile, CLSA has raised its PT for Google to $1,100, even though Q2 data from search marketing firm Performics has been mixed, with Y/Y spending growth falling to 4.5% from 12.4% thanks partly to tough comps. Mobile now makes up 36% of Performics' tracked U.S. paid clicks, but only 13.5% of ad spend, due to lower prices. CLSA is confident Enhanced Campaigns will help narrow the gap. 1 Comment [Tech]
Wednesday, June 19, 9:16 AM Google (GOOG) is open to forging alliances with P-E firms to make acquisitions, says M&A chief Don Harrison, who hints additional major deals are being considered in the wake of Waze. Harrison also expounds on Google's broader M&A strategy: "We apply something called the toothbrush test ... Is this something people use once or twice a day and does it solve a problem?" Meanwhile, law prof. Steven Davidoff reports Google skipped providing an antitrust review filing for Waze to the DOJ and FTC by using an exemption for foreign companies with less than $60.9M in U.S. sales/assets. Comment! [Tech, M&A]
Monday, June 17, 4:20 PM Google (GOOG +1.2%) expands the Chromebook's distribution to include Wal-Mart and Staples' U.S. stores; Wal-Mart will sell an Acer Chromebook for $199 at 2.8K stores, and Staples will sell Acer, H-P, and Samsung Chromebooks at 1.5K stores. Best Buy and Amazon are already on board. Consumer and enterprise demand for Chrome OS hardware has been hurt by app issues (there aren't enough of them, and they need to be browser/cloud-based) and a cratering low-end laptop market. But the OS has picked up some fans in the education vertical. (Chromebook Pixel) Comment! [Tech]
Monday, June 17, 1:15 PM Google (GOOG +1.4%) roundup: 1) Google has settled a class-action suit over its plans to create Class C shares, and thus further cement Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Eric Schmidt's control. The settlement compensates shareholders if the value of Class C shares differs 1%+ from their current Class A shares. 2) Specs leak for Motorola's X Phone - it reportedly has just a 720p display and dual-core Qualcomm (QCOM) MSM8960 CPU to go with a 10MP camera - and the next Nexus 7 - it has a quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 CPU and dual cameras. 3) Ryan Lawler observes YouTube's top content creators are griping over ad prices and revenue splits, and looking for other options. But they're hesitant to completely leave due to YouTube's scale. 1 Comment [Tech]
Sunday, June 16, 4:27 PM Integrated circuit expert and SA contributor Karl Guttag has conclusive proof that Himax (HIMX) microdisplays are being used in Google Glass (GOOG). Shares of Himax (HIMX) are down more than 28% since May 31 after Google Glass teardowns revealed no Himax logo. 54 Comments [Breaking News, Top Stories, Tech]
Sunday, June 16, 3:44 AM Facebook (FB) has disclosed that it received 9,000-10,000 requests for information about 18,000-19,000 accounts from all U.S. government entities in H2 2012, whether those entities be local authorities or the NAS. Microsoft (MSFT) received 6,000-7,000 requests, although Google (GOOG) declined to provide the information, saying it wanted permission to provide more detailed data before releasing such information. 9 Comments [Tech, Consumer]
Saturday, June 15, 12:09 AM Google (GOOG) unveils Project Loon, an initiative aiming to provide Web access for the entire world using (believe it or not) hot-air balloons. The balloons, meant to connect "rural, remote, and underserved areas," would be "carried by the wind at altitudes twice as high as commercial planes," and deliver 3G or faster speeds. Google modestly admits the idea presents challenges, but says its use of wind/solar power to control where the balloons go, and algorithms to determine where to send them, could make it work. A pilot program is underway in New Zealand. It's safe to call this one of Larry Page's moonshot projects. 15 Comments [Tech]
Friday, June 14, 9:21 AM Microsoft (MSFT) finally releases a version of Office for the iPhone. But the app requires an Office 365 subscription, and while users can create/edit Word and Excel docs, they can't yet do the same for PowerPoint. Interestingly, Microsoft tells The Verge it doesn't plan to create an iPad app, arguing the Office Web Apps are available. With mobile productivity apps typically going for $10 apiece or less (much less than PC Office app licenses or 365 subscriptions), Microsoft seems more interested in using Office mobile apps to drive 365 sales and differentiate Windows 8/Phone than anything else. Google (GOOG) offers its Quickoffice apps for free to Google Apps for Business subs. (previous) 12 Comments [Tech]
Thursday, June 13, 5:18 PM Facebook (FB) is eliminating its sponsored search ads as part of its efforts to get rid of over half its 27 ad products (and limit advertiser confusion). Facebook argues the ads were mostly used to promote apps and games, products that can be advertised via app install ads (growing quickly) and page post link ads. But it's still a surprising move, given expectations Facebook will ramp its search ad ops with the help of graph search. Meanwhile, a Salesforce report estimates the click-through rate for Facebook ads ranges from a mere 0.03% (dating ads) to 0.92% (telecom ads). Google (GOOG) once claimed the average rate for its AdWords search ads is around 2%. 2 Comments [Tech]
Thursday, June 13, 2:55 PM The EU is investigating Google (GOOG +0.3%) over claims it violated antitrust laws by giving Android away for free and imposing exclusivity deals for the bundling of Google apps/services (Google Play, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, etc.), the FT reports. The investigation follows a formal complaint launched in April by Microsoft, Nokia, Oracle, and others. Apps/services bundling is pivotal to Google's Android monetization strategy, which has begun paying off nicely. Two big questions: 1) Can OEMs can afford not to pre-install Google's apps even if they're free to do so, given their popularity? 2) If OEMs keep pre-installing them but gain more leverage, will that lead to higher traffic acquisition costs? Comment! [Tech]
Thursday, June 13, 2:12 PM Global mobile ad sales will grow 79% in 2013 to $15.8B, and Google (GOOG) will account for $8.85B (56%) of them on the back of 92% growth, estimates eMarketer. Facebook's (FB) mobile ad sales are seen rising over 4x to $2.04B (12.9% share), Pandora's (P) 67% to $400M, Twitter's 121% to $310M, and Millennial Media's (MM) 71% to $120M. Total digital (Web/mobile) ad sales are expected to rise 10% in 2013 to $116.8B, with Google growing 19% to $38.8B, Facebook 38% to $5.89B, Microsoft (MSFT) 22% to $2.08B, LinkedIn (LNKD) 46% to $380M, and Yahoo (YHOO) just 3% to $3.63B. (U.S. mobile estimates) 4 Comments [Tech]
Thursday, June 13, 10:58 AM The second-gen Nexus 7 will go on sale in July and the 16GB version will sell for $229, reports sometimes-accurate Digitimes. Reuters previously reported Google (GOOG) was considering more aggressive price points for the 7, which now faces low-end Android competition that goes well beyond the Kindle Fire. Also: VR-Zone reports Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie) will arrive in late October and be more resource-efficient than existing releases. That could lead to lower component costs for low-end devices, and also better battery life for Android hardware in general. Comment! [Tech]
Wednesday, June 12, 2:20 PM H-P (HPQ +3.6%) is giving Google Apps (GOOG -0.8%) a big endorsement; the company is launching SMB IT in a Box, a solution that pairs H-P's PCs, printers, management software, and services with Google Apps subscriptions. SMB IT will be offered worldwide via H-P's giant reseller network by year's end. It arrives shortly after Microsoft (MSFT) gave Office 365 a feature-packed update in an effort to keep Google and other cloud rivals at bay, and to migrate customers to subscription plans. The Small Business Premium version of 365 goes for $12.50/user/month; Google Apps for Business goes for either $5/user/month or $50/year. 2 Comments [Tech]
Tuesday, June 11, 11:48 AM It's official: Google (GOOG -0.7%) is acquiring Waze. No price tag has been given yet. On Google's official blog, Maps/Earth engineering chief Brian McClendon says Waze's R&D team "will remain in Israel and operate separately for now." He adds Google is "excited about the prospect of enhancing Google Maps with some of the traffic update features provided by Waze and enhancing Waze with Google’s search capabilities." (previous) 2 Comments [Tech, Breaking News, M&A]
Tuesday, June 11, 9:21 AM Amazon (AMZN) -1.9% and eBay (EBAY) -2%, following markets lower, after ChannelAdvisor reports same-store-sales growth declines for clients relying on the companies in May. Amazon's growth rate fell to 25.8% (its lowest over the last 12 months) from 30.6% in April, and eBay's fell to 16% from 20.5% (auctions -18%, fixed-price +16%, Motors +30%). The numbers also aren't great for Google (GOOG), which is seeing rising e-commerce ad competition and has been tweaking its strategy: sales from search ads -0.8%, and comparison shopping (e.g. Google Shopping) +0.3%. comScore puts total U.S. e-commerce growth in the 14%-15% range. 2 Comments [Tech, Consumer]
Monday, June 10, 6:40 PM Google's (GOOG +1.2%) apps are becoming nearly as ubiquitous on iOS as Safari and iTunes. App developer Onavo says 69% of iPhone owners who have installed one of its apps used a Google-built app in May, up from just 32% in Aug. '12. The well-monetized YouTube app, launched last year after the default ad-free app was booted from iOS, is used by 49.5%, Google Maps by 32%, Google Search by 15.9%, and Chrome (important for lowering search traffic acquisition costs) 17.6%. Apple announced today Bing is replacing Google as Siri's default search engine; Google is still available on Siri, and remains the default engine elsewhere. Comment! [Tech]

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