Google Patents Bring WiFi Down To Earth


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KinderStart Sues Google Over PageRank - Cont.
...What if I had a children's website appearing on Kinderstart directory. I was getting some great clicks from their pages and then one day, they redesigned the website and during this process removed some directory entries because they felt it didn't work in the new design. Could I cry foul and sue KinderStart because I am no longer appearing on the directory even through my business became "dependant" on it?

Will (Ask.com's) Ads Work?
So, I've been very impressed by the new Ask.com ad campaign. I think these ads might actually get people to go over to ask and use the "tools" as they say. What do you think? Is Ask going to become a viable engine?

Dupe Content: Where Does It Lie?
I've been hearing a lot about duplicate content lately, but I want to pinpoint exactly why Google and any other engine considered it "dupe content". Is it in the title tag, the alt tag, the keyword tag, in the page content itself, in the url? How does the spider determine what is dupe content, which leads to omitted results?

Mass Submission to Search Engines
When I first started out in the web design business (many moons ago) sites like submitit and submitexpress were commonplace and used quite frequently. I am helping someone out who is using a DIY package who includes a link to submit express that they have used. My question(s) is: Was this a dumb thing to do?

Search Engines as Leeches on the Web
... Basically, Nielsen's argument is that pay-per-click advertising siphons off the profitablilty of webistes, and ultimately the search engines can be the only winners from companies bidding against each other for keywords.

Thursday Mar 30, 2006

One day, my pie in the sky will be crumbs on a plate. Full-bellied, my GoogleNet wireless connection will intuitively retrieve an ad for Alka-Seltzer; the bubbly concoction plop-plop fizz-fizzes with tiny executive voices admitting in fizzy whispers, "yes, Jason, Google's full of it."

Editor's Note: Is the GoogleNet still just a pipedream envisioned by true believers? Or is there enough evidence to predict its reality? Or are both viewpoints missing the mark? Sound off in WebProWorld.

On March 16th, three patents were published by the US Patent & Trademark office, granting wireless patents to Google employees. The patents, in large comforting letters at the top, announce the subject of their protection:

Patent #20060058019: Method and system for dynamically modifying the appearance of browser screens on a client device.

In one embodiment, a connection of a client device to a wireless access point is identified. Further, the appearance of a screen presented on the client device is modified to reflect the brand associated with a provider of the wireless access point.

Patent #20060059043: Method and system to provide wireless access at a reduced rate

Methods and system for providing wireless access at a reduced rate. In one embodiment, access to a WAP is provided to an end-user at a rate subsidized by a first entity. The first entity includes advertisements in an end-user view.

Patent #20060059044: Method and system to provide advertisements based on wireless access points

Methods and system to provide advertisements in a view of an end user accessing a wireless access point. The advertisements are related to the WAP based on a predetermined criterion.

I'm bad at math, let's double check. System for reducing wireless rates + way to serve ads based on wireless access points + technology to alter browser to show sponsors of access points = x.

When CNet asked Google about the patents, the Internet advertising authority responded with a wordy "so what?"

"Like many companies, we file patent applications on a variety of ideas that our employees may come up with. Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services; some don't," a company representative said. "Prospective product announcements should not be inferred from our patent applications."

But, but, but, but…didn't they just last month join forces with Earthlink to propose a two-tiered wireless citywide service to San Francisco? Well yeah, because Google and Earthlink believe in open access to the worlds information.

"We have submitted this proposal because at Google we're focused on creating new technologies that make it easier for people to quickly access the world's information," said Google.

"Customers shouldn't be tied to their desks, or to a single provider, to get the Internet experience they want. Both EarthLink and Google recognize this and are attempting to provide great service and choice in San Francisco," said Earthlink.

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A little while back, Robert X. Cringely asserted that Google would not morph into an Internet service provider because ISP's are "lousy businesses." But one thing missed here is that advertising and media companies are not lousy businesses. Google is morphing into a network, and teaming up with ISP's to deliver content and advertising.

Let's do some more math. Google buys up dark fiber nationwide + alphabet soup of speedy extra capacity Internet technology + huge databases + wireless advertising patents + deals with Earthlink + deals with media companies + WiFi testing in San Francisco= x.

Google, notoriously secretive, has a preference for hedged statements with phrasing like "at this time" and "announcements should not be inferred." A maybe-maybe-not stance is protection against failure. No promises equals no liability.

In addition to that, the wireless ad-supported network they may or may not be envisioning will face fierce opposition from huge telecommunications companies who don't willing let anybody cut in on their turf, not even for emergencies.

Is the GoogleNet a pie in the sky? Maybe, but it's losing altitude all the time.

About the Author:
Jason is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.

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Google Revenue Jeopardized By Keyword Case

Searching for Edina Realty on Google returns a top-of-the-page sponsored link run by TheMLSonline.com, and Edina Realty has sued the advertiser over use of its trademark.

Even though the lawsuit involved Google and keywords, for once no one has shown up at the Googleplex bearing warm greetings and a stone-cold subpoena. In Edina Realty, Inc. v. TheMLSonline.com, Marquette law professor Eric Goldman has blogged that the case equates keyword purchases to trademark infringement.

"That's what makes this case significant. I think this is the first case substantively analyzing a purchaser's liability for buying a competitor's keyword," he wrote in his post.

TheMLSonline.com purchased keywords like "Edina Realty" and several variations, including misspellings, on both Google and Yahoo. Yahoo recently changed its policy for trademark purchases, restricting them to being eligible for purchase only by the trademark holder. Google does not do this.

Along with the keyword purchases, TheMLSonline.com also indulged in placing hidden text on its site, Goldman noted. Phrases like "Edina Realty information presented at TheMLSonline.com" were hidden as white text on a white background.

The impact of the court's initial ruling that the purchase of keywords, though not conventional, is a use in commerce, could have implications down the road. Goldman believes a couple of key points arose from the ruling.

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David is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.

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PPC Advertising: Not Long For This World?

Well, another WebProWorld feature post section is upon, and it appears the topic of PPC advertising remains at the forefront. However, today's particular post deals with concept of PPC being at a point where it may have run it's course, or to put it as the poster did, is PPC dying?

That's an interesting point to consider, especially when Google themselves say click fraud is one of the biggest threats to their overall income. That's a lot of eggs in that basket and if the basket starts unravel, who knows what happens to Google (or Yahoo, Ask, and MSN Search for that matter). Anyway, check out the post below and see if you have anything to add.

|| Chris||

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Is Pay Per Click Soon to Die?

As most of you probably know, billing for adverts on major search engines occurs via a Cost Per Click model. Each click on a particular ad drives up the bill for advertisers.

I have been thinking about why this business model is unstable and likely to collapse in the near future; I would be interested in hearing your opinions on this matter.

As research shows, more and more businesses are turning to search engine paid marketing strategies for their promotionnal needs, as a result cost per clicks on average are rising due to the growth of advertisers. In the current state of things I would without a doubt say that most advertisers are obtaining good return of investements with this method of advertising.

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