Interesting CNN article that address some points outlined below:

• · Why are some people leaving the utopist work environment Google provides in order to start their own projects?
• · Does Google need to worry when they’re netting $1 billion (billion with a B) each quarter (quarter with a Q)?
• · What does Marc Benioff mean when he says “They have a fantastic cash cow.  They need a goat and a chicken.”
• · Will Google retain it’s quirkiness despite having become a huge corporation?  Is that even possible?
• · With so many side projects going on inside Google, aren’t some people working in parallel on the same thing with no collaboration?
• · Is Google’s next big success going to be Google Apps (MS Office competitor) or Android (open source cell phone)?
• · Is Google recession proof or recession resistant?
• · Did a Microsoft executive actually compliment Google with this quote? “They could be such pioneers that no one will know for years.”

Bottom line…we still won’t know what to expect next from Google.  Google is a riddle inside a mystery wrapped in an enigma.  Apparently that’s all you need to create in order to net $1 billion (with a B) each quarter (with a Q).

I hadn’t seen this before but it looks like Google’s local push is moving into the PPC realm.

Look at the + sign next to the AquaTots PPC ad:

Here’s what happens when you click the + and expand the ad:

Looks to be in beta right now for some advertisers but hopefully will roll out soon. I know a lot of people that would like to use this feature.

Reported on Blumenthal, SEORoundTable, Screenwork and Vertical Leap.

Point - This sort of takeover would further Microsoft’s reputation of adhering towards the “global domination monopoly”mindset and create less competition amongst search engines.  Ultimately this would suck because it’s the competition between companies which makes them strive to become better.

Counterpoint - Neither Yahoo nor MSN can compete with Google on their own without any sort of amazing technology development or influx of funding.  Of course, additional budget/new guidance doesn’t always help out….just take a look at Ask.com, their PPC program still doesn’t perform after dropping the “Jeeves” and massive television advertising efforts.

-Brian Renner

This sort of deal has been waiting to happen since the two separate search engine entities (Yahoo.com and MSN.com) can’t quite emulate Google enough to draw Pay Per Click advertising dollars.

Microsoft Bids $41 Billion for Yahoo

Yahoo now must now decide whether to deny the deal, go it alone and most likely have to strike a deal with Google, or let Microsoft buy them out and merge under one technology.

They’ll probably do what makes the most financial sense with regards to their PPC platform.  The MSN platform is horrible and needs to be revamped considerably if they want to attract any more advertising dollars.  Yahoo may have more leverage than they think in this deal since their PPC platform, although not even close to being as good as Google’s, is much better than MSN’s.

-Brian Renner