modelportfolio2003

'Googled: The End of the World as We Know It' Teaches Valuable Lessons

Google is a force for the good. It will however, accelerate changes to companies that are either in decline or evolving to another model of business. Anticipating being Googled is a very important exercise that many companies should routinely strategize about....for their own good.

Fever Pitch: Happy Droid Day, Enjoy the Moment

My happiest moment for the Droid will be when the reincarnation into the Milestone, the GSM version of Droid, makes it to London! Then I will be truly happy and will snap it up. Keep the love affair with it going so I can keep the desire strong. If anyone has news about its expected arrival here and with which carrier (I saw it is to sell soon in Germany) I would be grateful. Enjoy the moment in the US today.

Is Google Really a 'Most Valuable' Company?

@alphonsus
What is clear is that Microsoft is heading down the list while Google is e heading up. Welcome to the new economy and the ability of Google to disintermediate/commod... the Microsoft monopoly cash flow machine called Windows and Office. At $ 750 per share, which I expect to see next year, Google's market cap would be approx $ 240 million. Google's role in the world economy: organizing and making available in digital form the world's information, will be a function needed for years to come and a function every bit as useful to us as any role provided by any of the names on your list.

Google Q3: Growth Returns

@Peter.
Remember the PPC and esp CPC rates are higher in US than in China, India, Brazil, big international growth countries for Google, so if you looked at pure volume and not pricing, you would be more than impressed with Google's international growth. Remember that US still has lions share of worlds consumers (esp in value terms) and advertizers are keen to service this market.

Google's YouTube Could Be EBITDA Positive in First Quarter 2011

With the little info we know about On2's reasons for sale to Google, it is hard to believe that the premium paid to On2 shareholders is not fair and reasonable. Remember, we are talking about a share trading below $1 so the percentage premium paid by Google is huge. It is possible that On2 is worth more, but IMO your preamble does not support your conclusion. As the Board of On2 is legally obliged to act in the interests of their shareholders, I am sure they acted reasonably and have a fairness opinion in hand. If you are an On2 shareholder who feels he is being underpaid, take it up with your Board.

Google Is Not About to Cave on Book Digitization

Agree. Unlikely to "give in" but some compromise needed to get this great idea to move forward. Amen to Google's efforts here.

Google: 'Wave' of the Future?

@Chuck
@NW Tech
Nice summary, esp of Google Wave. It is clearly a disruptive technology and has the potential to be really big for Google. I like Google's "beta" approach on this one as it is clearly building a ground-swell of support in the developer community. The integration with other open source apps from Google, esp Android and Chrome, add to the credibility of the Wave which you can, because of cloud computing, carry on with many devices--PCs, mobiles, MID, etc.
Yes, the shares are still below the all time high reach before the Great Recession, but when they re-establish this "high", which I believe they will do, they will have diversified from being a one product company, text search, to other cash cows, display, YouTube, mobile, etc

Why Apple Should Start Wooing Verizon Like Google

LTE not happening for V until 2011 so I would not expect to see any deal between Verizon and Apple until then. That is a long time for a Verizon user to wait for an iphone and I suppose that Android will be filling any void and then some in this two year waiting period. I believe V is serious about openness, esp with the FCC breathing down carriers necks about net neutrality rules being introduced this month. V and T are both being forced to accept this new world introduced by Google. Consumers will be the winners thanks to Google.

Will Apple Drop Google Search?

Who to believe? Jason or Warren Buffett, who says that the Google "moat" is indeed very wide and deep? Guess I will choose Warren, despite his lack of "technology knowledge" over Jason's technology knowledge. I know who has the better track record. Guess Jason believes that Google engineers will stand still.

Analysts say a new corporate email service from IBM (IBM) that undercuts Google's (GOOG) $50/year package by $14 could mean trouble for Google. IBM's LotusLive iNotes is much sparser than Google's offering, and offers far less memory, but IBM believes its vastly larger sales force and deep relationships with corporations give it an edge.

No one should underestimate either Google or IBM. But the folks at Fairchild Semi had a choice recently: Stay with IBM or move to Google Docs and they choose Google Docs. LA County also moving to Google Docs. Google cloud computing model in intrinsic to everything it does.....IBM model is really hybrid.....a defensive reaction to Google Docs within a proprietary environment where the profit margins in enterprise would suffer greatly if they really pushed the no frills, $36 model. Doubt they really want to talk their clients down from the full freight paying model already in place. I do not expect Google to loose sleep here. Microsoft model, Azure, coming next year too. Google successfully sapping competition.

Calinoff: Google as Also-Ran

Seems to me that Google could have done better at some things in China (and recent departures and turning over new management leaf implies some fault), but blatant interference by Chinese Government in favor of Baidu and against Google plays a large part IMO. I have met Baidu management and they are certainly no smarter, just politically connected. Baidu's reputation also built on illegal music downloads, recently addressed by Google in joint venture with CN100. US Government should make it very clear to Chinese counterparts that continued interference will cost Chinese when it comes to trying to acquire US companies.

Interview with Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Part II

Great, thought provoking questions.

Google continues to differentiate itself from the pack of followers and chasers with a clear vision of its mission, even though there is lots of work to be done to reach it.
Thanks.

Google: Considering M&A After All?

@DJIA5000. Isn't it time for bears to hibernate? We are getting close to winter and there will soon be no food around. Seriously though, your post reminds me of the lines from Bourne Ultimatum when the lady who used to run the Paris office corrects the current team when she says that Bourne does not do random; Bourne does not make mistakes. Maybe giving Google some credit that they have developed the greatest advertizing revenue model of all times and the revenue potential keeps growing, not shrinking, as long as the world economy revives. If your point about fewer clicks were correct, why would people grow their ad budget on Google, which they are obviously doing.

So if your point is, the world is heading back to 1929 Depression, then that would be a view to discuss. To slag off Google's strategy as worse than the convicted monopolist, Microhoo undermines your credibility. How is charging zero for most of their services the evil strategy of a monopolist? Your cave beckons for winter.

A Spirited Defense of the Google Book Search Settlement

Microsoft and the Republican party go hand in hand...both natural obstructionists to progress. Their view: if they did not invent it and benefit by it, it cannot be good. Pathetic.

Palm Wants to Embrace Google Voice, But It May Not Be Mutual

@Michael. Your recent write ups from your experience of using Google Voice for a number of months is really well done. Google comes out of this looking very good.....both the great innovator of what consumers really want (great convenience of one portable number, cheaper calls and texts and much more) and the supplier of the bullets for the great war. The provider of the bullets wins, no matter who wins the war.

Google has positioned itself as someone that most of the manufacturers of handsets (Motorola, Palm, Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia....just not Microsoft) will be unable to work without! I guess the true test of greatness will be when Microsoft starts taking Google apps on board!

Very smart strategy.