Google Fights for Wireless Freedom
Rarely do you hear about a large corporation hiring a powerful lobbyist for a good cause. That’s exactly what Google is doing to ensure the $10 billion US government auction for wireless service licenses isn’t hogged by greedy telco monopolies.
Three months ago, Google (GOOG) retained Richard Whitt, former head of the regulatory department for MCI, the telco formerly known as WorldCom now owned by Verizon (VZ). Whitt, acting as Google’s Washington telecom and media counsel, is lobbying the Federal Communications Commission on some of the biggest issues facing the wireless industry. These include ensuring certain wireless airwaves are made available for free public use and making sure the auction is carried out in such a way that up-and-comers get a shot at entering the market.
For sure, Google’s interests are far from selfless — they don’t want telco monopolies getting between them and their eyeballs — but their interests happen to be aligned with the common good. Works for me. 🙂
Google Surpasses Microsoft as Most-Visited Site
Despite all those Microsoft pages embedded into various Windows services, the people still choose Google.
For the first time, Google has edged ahead of Microsoft as the world’s most visited Internet property. Online measurement firm comScore Networks found that Google had just over a million more unique users in March than its arch-rival.
Google had 528 million unique visitors in March, up 5 percent from the previous month, according to comScore. Microsoft had 527 million visitors during the same month, up 3.7 percent.
Expect Google’s lead to widen, seeing as it’s now also the world’s top brand.
The Brandz list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Brands, compiled by Milward Brown, shows that Google has overtaken Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, General Electric and Microsoft – jumping from last year’s seventh place to first.
You know you’re huge when churches compare God to you. Later on, Google could leverage its Web dominance to push Microsoft Office off the desktop. Get Ballmer another chair.
