Odd Argument: Google Will Lose Out Once Everyone's Comfortable Paying For Stuff

from the wait,-what? dept

I think that Google has a fair number of weak areas where there are wide open opportunities to attack its business, but honestly I have a lot of trouble believing that Google's embrace of "free" services is its Achilles' heel as claimed in an article over at SeekingAlpha. The argument is that Amazon and Apple have figured out how to make paid content work, and that goes against Google's general culture:
Because it's not culturally disposed to charging fees and has few billing relationships, Google's online search clout has been limited to free ad-supported arrangements. Google's share of total domestic online revenues could be at risk as user payments begin to match or exceed advertising, Mitchell contends. Google claims more than 30 percent of online ad market and a smaller share of online content apps payments.
This is wrong on so many different levels, it's hard to know where to start. First, I'd argue that Amazon and Apple haven't really figured out how to make paid content work. Both still mostly use it as a loss leader (or very very low margin leader) to sell higher margin physical goods. Second, the growth projections for paid content are (a) questionable and (b) starting on such a small base as to be effectively meaningless when compared to a market as large as advertising.

But, furthermore, the idea that if paid content/apps actually do become popular, Google couldn't capitalize on that, is difficult to believe. Google has certainly experimented with various forms of paid content and software. The fact that they haven't gone all that well doesn't mean that Google couldn't quickly come in and enable the ability where it does work.

So, yes, there are plenty of places where an attack on Google could be successful. But betting on the success of paid content and paid apps to bring down Google? Sorry, it's just not believable. But, you have to hand it to some Wall Street folks for actually thinking that the way to beat a company that gives away most stuff for free is to charge for it. After all, haven't we been hearing for years that "you can't compete with free?" And, now suddenly we're being told that offering something for "free" can't compete with a paid offering?
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Filed Under: business models, charging, content, free
Companies: amazon, apple, google


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2009 @ 8:20pm

    Anything Apple or Amazon can do Google can do better.

    The idea being spread around that paid content is better must be a "cheap" attempt to try to justify an old, and failing, business model. This sort of talk is popping up everywhere, where one source will, probably, quote another as fact, and so one, trying to convince the public that "paid" is better than "free" and that "free" does not work in a corporate world.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Crazy IT Professional, 10 Jul 2009 @ 8:42pm

      Re:

      Really Anything Apple or Amazon can do Google can do better?

      1st Product IPHONE
      2nd Product Safari

      Hell even Windows Mobile is better then Android.

      Google does 1 Thing well "SEARCH" and does many things badly such as every other project it has tried.
      (Please don't say Chrome, because yes it is fast, but it craps out in almost every web based business app out there.)

      I am not saying Google couldn't succeed in other ventures, but they have a long way to go and have to make up a lot of ground in the professional world.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2009 @ 8:58pm

        Re: Re:

        I think Google does search a lot better than "well." Google == web search, the same way Windows == operating system in the minds of most consumers. Gmail has already surpassed Hotmail and will soon surpass Yahoo in users. Yet you say they've failed every other project they've tried? I think the better question is: why are we comparing Google to Apple or Amazon? They sell completely different products.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        washii (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 2:16am

        Re: Re:

        >...it craps out in almost every web based business app out there...

        Wait..aren't a lot of web-based business apps reliant on ActiveX or particular severe quirks in IE as well? So, you're blaming Chrome because so many business apps were broken from the get-go?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Crazy IT Professional, 13 Jul 2009 @ 5:24pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Is it Google fault for not building a product that businesses will not use? YES Absolutely YES! Why put a product out that is going to have a ZERO value to today's business marketplace? I'm so sure that I'm going to spend my advertising dollars on a product that only caters to the home users??? I think I am going to spend my money where it can get the best results and chrome at its current build is not IT. I guess YOU will pay for the whole bull when all your actually getting is his testicles.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 6:51am

        Re: Re:

        Bill Gates clone ,, resistance is futile
        Ya I like to pay for stuff I can get for free
        it makes me feel so American
        I willjust buy more stuff on credit of course
        and pay for later ..
        never get anything for free if I could pay for it instead
        and everyone in america has an endless supply of money
        don't we , all the unemployed and under paid , the ones that make u safe.. like our men and women in harmsway.. overseas, when there service is done we take suck good care of them ,,,, bullshit

        if my bussiness starts to fail I will ask for and get help
        from my tax paying buddys
        this gut is a moroon and I am so feed up with bullshit
        non indepentant thinking ... just watch the tv and listen to cnn or fox news they really tell the truth all the time
        dont need to question there sources or anything
        because it is all true.. no need to check


        WAKE UP AMERICA

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Crazy IT Professional, 13 Jul 2009 @ 5:12pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Thank you for making everyone that reads your reply a little more stupid..... Man/woman I test and research products everyday for multiple companies and I hate to say it, but most products that are free don't have all the bells and whistles needed for a complex business. Have you ever written or called google and asked if there free "GOOGLE APPS" is HIPAA compliant? I do know the answer to this, but if your going to try and have an honest opinion get the story straight.... Check it out for yourself and by the way as long as your using those FREE programs most likely they are selling your IP and name to a Third Party that is using that information to sell to another company and needless to say that it goes down the line and ends up as spam in your spam filter well unless you have gmail then it will suddenly show up in your inbox.


          Just think and then respond not the other way around

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2009 @ 8:38pm

    This is all part of the perception that free products are "amateur." What people don't understand is that Google's free offerings aren't their products. Google's primary product is advertising. They have two key interests: persuading advertisers to buy advertising space with Google, and persuading users to use Google (and contribute clicks/page impressions). Free service offerings (the biggest being web search, of course) further both of those interests. They gain users by providing free, useful services, and they attract advertisers by gathering massive amounts of data about users, enabling them to provide auxiliary benefits to advertisers like Google Analytics, etc. Like any successful business, Google has multiple income streams and is always looking for new ways to make money, but it is a mistake to think that their "product" is search, or gmail, or picasa, or youtube. It's advertising, and it's making them billions.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 12:12am

      Re:

      What people don't understand is that Google's free offerings aren't their products. Google's primary product is advertising.

      Perhaps, this is allegedly the reason why MSFT decided to make a large investment into Facebook: for better user data.

      When you look at Bing and their offering, you see something similar, but more "in your face": It seems Bing is positioned to be used as an ad-based marketing tool, and perhaps they are promising higher conversion rates to ad partners. This can be used to persuade people to a product or service offering. This seems to be accomplished by federating data from multiple sources outside of just Bing Search, but perhaps also Facebook, Digg, CareerBuilder, as well as other Microsoft-heavy ad websites.

      I tend to believe that the proposed Yahoo Merger would have included data sharing agreements similar to the existing agreements (public or private) on their ad platform.

      The problem with this is that Bing seemed to start with advertising as a goal, and Google started with Search as a goal. As time goes on, I imagine that the two desired endpoints will have a negative effect on search results at Bing: Quality of results will suffer, as the business goal at Bing seems to filter results with the desire to initiate a transaction based on their "ad and contextual based decision engine" while Google will continue to offer unfiltered results with ads that match the actual context.

      It may be a year or two before this is apparent. But the slightly different endpoints will dramatically affect execution.

      Funny video:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0USn7eufXps

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jake, 10 Jul 2009 @ 9:19pm

    SeekingAlpha has about as much credibility as the Yahoo! Message Boards. It's basically a glorified blog whose sole claim to fame is getting to be listed as a news source by Yahoo!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Phoenix, 10 Jul 2009 @ 9:32pm

    Google's paid service is advertising. They have to be good at it and they are.

    The advantage of keeping everything else free is that it means they don't have to be very good at it.

    People like chrome because it's clean and fast. That's because it doesn't do very much. If you had to pay for a browser, would you pick chrome? Not me.

    Gmail overcame the original bad market reaction by giving away unheard of amounts of storage. But again, if you had to pay for email, would you pick gmail? Not me.

    Chrome o/s will be the same. It will appeal to the Google fan boyz and girlz but it will be severely limited for a long time. I predict a decade before it is ready for mainstream enterprise use, if ever.

    Google is very clever. They understand their focus. Giving away their 'hobbies' creates goodwill and hurts their competitors. BUT, if they ever lose their grip on search (and therefore advertising), they are dead. For the amount of bright people they supposedly have running the company, the breadth of real value is surprisingly narrow.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Griff (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 6:22am

      Would you pay for gmail ? I would.

      If there were NO free email services, gmail is what I'd choose to buy rather than pay the same amount for Outlook Express and someone's POP3 or IMAP mailbox.

      If someone found a way to make a paid search engine viable would google.com be hurt ? Not until the newcomer could do everything better. (not just in a niche). And the ads on google are so unobtrusive, I'm not sure I'd pay to have them removed.

      While there is an "adequate" free service (like google apps) there will always be SOME people who use it rather than a feature rich paid solution.
      I'm actually surprised there is no screenspace used for ads in google apps, but I guess they could be scanning content to build a richer profile to drive ads to you in your other google related activities.

      Google know that trying to sell software is a mugs game. It's hard work and it can be pirated. But they are good at doing things that reinforce their ad model. Googlemail is another way to sell more ads next to analysable content. They are not trying to sell a mail program. And they happen to have made such a good webmail experience that it is actually nicer to use than a lot of mail client apps.


      Noone with any sense expects google OS to be an earth shattering OS (in fact it will be pretty minimal), but if they do it right it will be
      - free
      - easy to use out of the box
      - aimed at getting people into the google ecosystem straight after boot

      It is not there to try and depose Windows as an OS.
      It is there to lock in surfers as soon as they hit the net.
      They're after market share of surfers, not OS users.

      Saying "all that google can actually do well is search" is like saying "all that Toyota can do is build cars".
      Toyota don't profit from TV advertising or Formula 1 except in that it makes people buy cars. So what ?

      I don't think anyone will ever make paid search work, and I'm not sure anyone will ever surpass them at search. They are in a virtuous circle of revenue and research. I recall using Alta Vista exclusively in the early days when a few people were using google. But I never used "Alta Vista" as a verb, and I'm not sure anyone else ever did either.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Brooks (profile), 10 Jul 2009 @ 9:35pm

    Need recommendation

    Hey, does anyone know a search engine with results as good as Google's that I can pay for? I've decided that I'm sick and tired of this free stuff and I want to pay for search results the way I pay for e-books from Amazon or music from Apple.

    Hmm, nope. I really tried to believe it there, gave it my all. But it's still farcical.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Phoenix, 10 Jul 2009 @ 9:39pm

    One more thought...

    Continuing from my previous post, I bet Google is every bit as worried about Bing (if not more) than Microsoft is about Chrome o/s. Despite their size, Google is still a one-trick pony and Bing seems to be getting a good reception.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2009 @ 6:58pm

      Re:

      Are you serious, I searched for spa resort on Bing and the results were all retirement homes.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Phoenix, 10 Jul 2009 @ 9:46pm

    @Brooks - end-users don't pay for search engines, advertisers do. And my experience with Bing leads me to think that Google should be at least concerned.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      EnricoSuarve, 13 Jul 2009 @ 2:23am

      Re:

      Concerned? Why?

      As far as I'm aware Bing is the POS search engine that my ISP (Talk Talk) defaulted me to without my permission when I installed my new router, so I experimented with for a day before deciding that I had better things to do with my time than spend it doing repeat searches and switched back to Google

      If bing is so mindblowing how come their main search screen has a very familiar set of options "Web, Images, Videos, Shopping, News, Maps, More", "Show all, Only from [country]"? For a company you claim Google should be worried about they sure seem to want to emulate them...

      Personally my advice would be that if you want to oust an established, well liked brand; bring something new and innovative to the table. Copying the existing brand but providing a less useful service doesn't seem to be very threatening

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    m3mnoch (profile), 10 Jul 2009 @ 10:13pm

    content? no.

    not to mention that google isn't in the content business -- they're in the indexing business.

    i repeat: google does not make and sell content.

    they don't even sell other people's content. they sell algorithmically indexed associations linking disparate 3rd party producers' content. (search, gmail, maps, adsense, book search, etc.)

    meaning, they're the middle-man. they point them over there to them over yonder and take a cut for the referral. the more hook-ups they can make, the more money they bring in.

    you know -- kinda like a digital pimp.

    m3mnoch.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2009 @ 11:53pm


    "And, now suddenly we're being told that offering something for "free" can't compete with a paid offering?"


    Yeah I hear this every so often. The guys that sell stuff claim that if you pay for something you're getting a better product because you're paying for guys that get payed to build and maintain said product. I like my Open Office, GIMP, SUPER et al.

    By their reasoning my OOo and Google Docs should be worse off than MS' products because I got them for free but they work for what I want I want them to. That's good enough for me and I didn't have to spend a dime on them (save internet access of course). In many cases free products do more than payed ones. OOo reads more file types, VLC lets you play a boatload of video extensions, odds are you'll never come across a .lzh file but 7Zip will decompress it if you ever do.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 5:56am

      Re:

      LHarc? Wow. that's oldschool. I remember back in the day when having a BBS made you cool. However, there were levels of cool. For example, Good ANSI art made you cool. If you knew how to use TheDraw, you were cool. RipTerm always was looked down upon. Real folks used ProComm Plus for Dos.

      I was a fan of ARJ myself, it seemed to be the best of all worlds, albeit, a little slow. Plus, the free archive comment feature made it a few steps ahead of PKZip and the others out there. I recently changed to Mac, and well, when they used 7zip, inhouse, I didn't quite understand why, but as inquisitve as I was, I found that 7Z archives were free, and if you needed to buy a WinZip license for 30,000 employees, well, it made sense to use it.

      I have to say though, I'm a WinRar person myself, but it seems that StuffIT has come a long way since I last used it. I was surprised it was still around. StuffIT was also the company that made "DiskDoubler" back in those days, which was possibly shamelessly started up a copy machine and created some crappy product called "DoubleSpace".

      It was a weird time back then actually. Other companies showed up, I remember using 386-Max back then. This was around the time when companies were experimenting with Int 02,13 because the dominating operating system at the time wasn't setup for multitasking, as it was in "Real Mode". It wasn't until 95 that things started to come together, but only by abandoning real mode completely did things start to work. This was, of course done in the NT/2000 era, which led to XP. In some ways, XP is the the end of the line. Much like what ProComm Plus was to BBSes, or greenscreens were to the AS/400: perfect for accessing stovepiped applications. It filled the need completely, and thusly, business saw no additional need to continue with the ecosystem.

      However, it seems that in an effort to continue with some sort of status quo, some companies are deciding to build hugely inefficient kernels which only tax the system. Thusly, I believe that Google may very well create Microsoft into the IBM of 1970s. While they are focused on building typewriters, innovation occurs just beyond the walls.

      There's some parallels to what an ex-high ranking person at Cigna said last week.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 6:03am

        Re: Re:

        To add...
        My favorite quote was "20% of our revenue goes to overhead, while the Government MediAid runs on a 3% overhead cost."

        When I thought about that, I came to the realization that perhaps DoJ probably was correct, and MS probably would have been better off if it swallowed the pill it was Prescribed and broke into 3 to 5 separate companies.

        It would have removed the Stovepiped mentality, and created several very vibrant businesses. But instead, it seems most of the revenue goes towards overhead costs: maintaining processes, procedures, which keep the business from being truly numble and able to address customer requests.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    whitemouse, 11 Jul 2009 @ 3:10am

    Would I pay to use Google services?

    I love Google, I'm a Google fan...I use iGoogle as my homepage, I use Chrome, GMail, I share documents with work colleagues via GoogleDocs and have shared Google Calender. If I'm sharing a video, it goes on YouTube, if I'm searching the web, I use google, etc.
    Would I pay for this stuff? Well I paid for Microsoft Office, I paid for Windows Vista, I'll be paying for Windows 7 before the year is out. If I had to pay for a browser, would I choose Chrome over IE or Firefox? Well I chose Chrome over IE and Firefox when I didn't have to pay...so go figure. If I had to pay for mail service, would I choose GMail over yahoo mail and hotmail? Again, they're all free and I chose GMail.

    So yes, if I had to pay for stuff...I'd pay Google, and I'd want an OS to be in the works. As it is now, I don't have to pay Google and they're making a profit anyway...so I'm not going to choose to use something I have to pay for when I'm more than happy with what I get for free.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 5:36am

      Re: Would I pay to use Google services?

      Would I pay for this stuff? Well I paid for Microsoft Office, I paid for Windows Vista

      Office is okay, Vista made me a Mac Person, and, well, Entourage is a joke: It's based on Outlook Express Codebase. Hell, Novell Evolution has had Exchange support since the 1920s. The deliberately slow development process at Microsoft India is probably why Apple decided to announce native exchange support.

      I'll be paying for Windows 7 before the year is out.

      Good for you! Sinofsky will be happy. But don't pay more than $50 though-- $50 will pay a family of four in India for a year and a half.

      If you desire to pay more, look into what Steve Jobs has created. Today, he's building laptops stateside using in house CNC processes, all from a solid block of metal. That's freaking cool innovation!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      minijedimaster (profile), 13 Jul 2009 @ 7:45am

      Re: Would I pay to use Google services?

      Wait a second, people actually PAY for Microsoft's products? When did this happen?! (non-corporate of course)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Osno (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 5:40am

    It's been stated already but, since when are Google, Apple and Amazon in the same camp?? I love some of the stuff Google creates, I use Amazon for almost all of my american book shopping and I think Apple has yet to come with a good product but I accept that they have a huge following... but I cannot think of one thing they have in common. Maybe google books and amazon's preview are similar in some way, but that's about it. This is like saying that once wikipedia and facebook start to charge, google is out of business. How does one thing compare with the other??

    The other flawed comparison is "Google's share of total domestic online revenues could be at risk as user payments begin to match or exceed advertising". The money is not coming from the same pockets. Users don't decide between paying or advertising. Google may do worst than, say, Amazon. But that's not a failure IMHO, it's a completely different business. You can't start comparing yourself with just about everyone out there!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Osno (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 5:52am

    Oh, I get it. It's stated in the article that Google’s share of the total internet revenue opportunity may diminish. The fact I didn't see before is that there is a totally static "internet revenue opportunity" and it's important to have a big share of that. Apple apparently will seize part of the "internet revenue opportunity" by selling iPhones and Amazon by selling eBooks on the Kindle.

    Still not making much sense.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lon Koenig, 11 Jul 2009 @ 6:26am

    "not culturally disposed to charging fees"
    Aroo? Really? Who's cashing my checks to Google?
    Google charges plenty of fees. They just don't usually charge the end user.

    I pay for Google Apps, but I consider my email mission-critical and am willing to pay for it.

    But Google has demonstrated they want to be a player in those cases where a service or content is paid for by the end user.
    That's why they created Google Checkout.
    Not having a ton of success against PayPal, but it's Google. If the time comes that paid content comes close to ad revenue, you can bet everyone will be made aware of Checkout.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 7:08am

    "Both still mostly use it as a loss leader (or very very low margin leader) to sell higher margin physical goods."

    This is the stupidest comment ever, by far, especially coming from the guy who suggests all music should be given away for free as a loss leader to push traffic to other "scarce" stuff. If a band could figure out how to sell their music at break even at least and still get a push,wouldn't it be better? Apple has come up with a perfect way to drive business, while not having to pay out the ass to do it. They have found a way to at least break even, that is pretty damn good.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 11:51am

      Re:

      This is the stupidest comment ever, by far, especially coming from the guy who suggests all music should be given away for free as a loss leader to push traffic to other "scarce" stuff.

      I don't say "should" I say "will."

      If a band could figure out how to sell their music at break even at least and still get a push,wouldn't it be better?

      Yes, and that's exactly what I've said. If you *can* sell stuff, more power to you. But the question is how well will you be able to do that for very long.

      But the real point here is that I'm not talking about the artists. I'm talking about Apple and Amazon. Neither make any real money on the digital sales. Apple makes their money selling hardware. Amazon is currently selling mp3s at a *loss* in many cases.

      Apple has come up with a perfect way to drive business, while not having to pay out the ass to do it. They have found a way to at least break even, that is pretty damn good.

      Yes. I'm not sure what you're arguing. My point is the same as yours. Apple is using the music as a loss leader to sell hardware. So the idea that selling content is somehow a great business (as implied by the article) is wrong.

      So what point are you making?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 7:22pm

        Re: Re:

        "So what point are you making?"

        The only point is that you are mostly pushing the idea of giving away "infinite" content for free, as a promotion for other products. Itunes shows not only does content not have to be free, but it can be a valid and functional (at least break even) business model. With slight tweeks, it could be suggested that Itunes could be a valid and profitable stand alone business.

        Doesn't this upset the idea of content as infinite?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          CleverName, 12 Jul 2009 @ 6:43am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Did Apple want to charge for music - or was it the big music industry folks who demanded payment for each d/l ?
          (and then wanted more)

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Mike Masnick (profile), 12 Jul 2009 @ 10:55am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Doesn't this upset the idea of content as infinite?

          Not at all. Because content being infinite is a physical property of the content. That doesn't change no matter what the business model is.

          My point is to simply discuss the economics around it. The fact that Apple has built a good business using music as a loss leader doesn't change that at all. In fact it supports it.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2009 @ 11:52am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Except that the music business isn't a "loss", but a functional break even business. On your type of model, they would just give music away, and that would be a real loss leader. The reality is they have found a pricing model and system that people are comfortable enough with to pay, and that in turn has created a business model that, while not insanely profitable, isn't run as a charity.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              CleverName, 12 Jul 2009 @ 12:47pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "functional break even business."

              What does this mean ? Is this your opinion ? Do you have any facts ? Are most music biz private or public, and are their finances public record ?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          JEDIDIAH, 12 Jul 2009 @ 7:58pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Does anyone but the labels make any money from iTunes?
          Apple doesn't seem to be making much and the artists
          seem to be getting shafted for the most part.

          Meanwhile, I still see a wider selection on Amazon.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    GH0STMASTER (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 7:36am

    Nah

    "What people don't understand is that Google's free offerings aren't their products. Google's primary product is advertising."

    If they had not their offerings, they would not of gotten this far. Maybe their ads pay for their offerings, but I can't help but to think that their apps, search engine, gmail, is what lured the masses of people in the first place. Tell me that I am going to a website to view just ads, and see if I go. Nope!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Designerfx (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 8:05am

      you're both wrong

      google has huge enterprise services that they offer, ala how people integrate a google search in their enterprise's homepage, how google does sites, etc.

      Not everything they do is free, the things a consumer can do are free.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 9:04am

    Old Business model

    Free content supported by advertising is not exactly new. It's the same business model broadcast TV has used since the 1950's applied to newer technology. It's not working as well for TV now because newer technology is slowly replacing it. The business model still works.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 10:05am

      Re: Old Business model

      Mike thinks it is some sort of miracle new business model (as does Wired Mag's Chris Anderson, who gushed over it in a recent issue). Ad supported isn't news.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Mike Masnick (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 11:54am

        Re: Re: Old Business model

        Mike thinks it is some sort of miracle new business model (as does Wired Mag's Chris Anderson, who gushed over it in a recent issue). Ad supported isn't news.

        What an odd and totally incorrect comment. I've said from the beginning that there's nothing new at all about the business model -- and even wrote why I hoped Chris didn't present it as some brand new business model when his book was announced. Because it's not new. But, what is new is that there are many more opportunities to employ it profitably due to the rise of digital.

        As for Chris, have you read his book? He doesn't claim it's new either, and actually uses tons of very old examples.

        Finally, "ad supported" isn't what we're talking about.

        So... you basically got every point in your comment 100% wrong.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2009 @ 6:48pm

          Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

          Notice I didn't refer to his book, I commented on his recent leader article into the "google economy" in Wired mag, where he absolutely gushed over the Google ad model. In fact, as suggested by the cover of the magazine, the intersection of the google economy, the "new" socialism, and the new car companies is what they refer to as the "new new economy".

          Yet, outside of the way the auctions work (which in itself doesn't seem new, so much as just highly automated), there isn't much new under the sun. Yet, there is Chris Anderson, once again attempting to trend search and call the "new new economy", when it is just the same bag of tricks assembled in a newly pressed bag.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            CleverName, 12 Jul 2009 @ 6:47am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

            AC - You only addresed one item, what about the others ?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Mike Masnick (profile), 12 Jul 2009 @ 10:53am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

            If Google's efforts aren't that new, then please explain the company's success.

            Thanks.

            Also, I'll note that you didn't respond to any of the other points I raised.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2009 @ 11:56am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

              I'm sorry, but you had another point?

              Have I read Chris's book? nope, waiting for the free edition (oddly didn't come out the same time as the expensive hard cover version, sort of the shiny plastic disc of publishing). I am a regular reader of Wired, there isn't much that Chris is going add that is going to surprise anyone, considering he is trend spotting rather than truly developing anything new.

              Chris pretty much claims everything is new in some format or another.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                Mike Masnick (profile), 13 Jul 2009 @ 12:30am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

                I'm sorry, but you had another point?

                Yes, I pointed out how you were wrong on a variety of different things, including my position. Funny. You didn't respond to any of those.

                Have I read Chris's book? nope, waiting for the free edition (oddly didn't come out the same time as the expensive hard cover version, sort of the shiny plastic disc of publishing).

                Er, actually the free editions have been rolling out since the launch. There's a free audio book, and free versions available on Scribd and Google books already, and more on the way.

                Chris pretty much claims everything is new in some format or another.

                Except that he doesn't. Not sure why you insist this is true when you haven't even read the book.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 3:55am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

                  Mike, please. Do you even read wired? Cover story, the "NEW NEW ECONOMY" and Chris goes on and on about everything new, but the reality is it is just old recycled.

                  Yes, he does go on and on about things being new when they aren't.

                  As for your position, as always, you are a slippery little eel when it comes to taking a position, and when backed into a corner you wave your hands dismissively and say "you don't understand anything I say". That is usually the way that someone gets out of ever getting attached to their own opinions.

                  Pretty much any time anyone tries to pin you down, you try to turn it around on them. Come on Mike, grow a pair and stand up for your opinions - and really express them. If I am wrong, don't just say I am wrong - tell me why. You are great at linking to your stuff, so show me where I am wrong.

                  Strange, you never do.

                  I have yet to find a free edition of Chris' book, I don't like google books (too cumbersome) and I don't tend to like audio books either (if I wanted a boring seminar reading, I know where to get it). I will have to check scridb once I get back in the western world.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 8:37am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

                    http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-03/ff_free?currentPage=4

                    You mean this article? He uses the word "new" several times, but never to describe old concepts (though he does use "new" in a past context multiple times).

                    Really, if you want to make a decent argument, at least be able to support it.

                    And as for Mike's opinions, you only care because you want his opinions. Opinions mean squat in the economy. Any economist who bases his arguments on personal feelings loses all credibility on the spot.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 9:38am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

                      He does it a couple of times there, but more in the current issue "the NEW new economy" where he writes a joiner / opinion piece to put together three "opinion based news" articles, two of which are very poorly researched, expressing the author's wishes and having little to do with reality.

                      "And as for Mike's opinions, you only care because you want his opinions."

                      No, sorry, I want Mike's actual opionins because I think he is playing Guru here, being very loose and slippery when it comes to his own position so he can always claim to be ahead of the curve and on the right track. Based on his presentations (too flashy for me, seems to be trying to keep people from thinking), Mike is certainly trying to look like he is on the ball on all of this stuff. It's easy to be right and call everyone else wrong when you don't separate out your own opinions from the opinions of others.

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • identicon
                        Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 10:24am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

                        Well, Wired search is currently failing me, so a link to the article would be appreciated.

                        And I have always found Mike's position to be consistent. Then again, it could be largely that you think of him as a "Guru" when he's not trying to be. It might be simpler to just ask what you actually want him to take a stance on, rather than these vague and sweeping accusations.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • icon
                    Mike Masnick (profile), 13 Jul 2009 @ 10:47am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Old Business model

                    Mike, please. Do you even read wired? Cover story, the "NEW NEW ECONOMY" and Chris goes on and on about everything new, but the reality is it is just old recycled.

                    Um. We're not talking about that. We're talking about what's in the book. In the book he spends an awful lot of time explaining the historical uses of free, and various business models -- including advertising -- but then goes on to explain why the digital world is changing how some of that works.

                    He isn't, as you claimed, pretending that advertising is new.

                    You are simply, flat-out, 100% wrong.

                    As for your position, as always, you are a slippery little eel when it comes to taking a position, and when backed into a corner you wave your hands dismissively and say "you don't understand anything I say". That is usually the way that someone gets out of ever getting attached to their own opinions.

                    This is not true. I state my opinion clearly and I stand behind it. Where I challenge you it's when you falsely assume that I have said something I have not.

                    For example, you insisted above that my position is that these business models I talk about are something new and revolutionary. But I have not done so. In fact, I have explained, repeatedly, how they are just applying basic economics. What *has* changed is the rise of digital technologies that mean these economics have more of an *impact* than they have had in the past, but I have never suggested that the models themselves are something new and revolutionary. Just their impact on the market. And I stand by that.

                    Pretty much any time anyone tries to pin you down, you try to turn it around on them.

                    This is not true. Only when folks claim I have said something I have not do I respond and point out that they are incorrect.

                    My positions are clear. The fact that you do not like them and repeatedly have tried to mischaracterize them does not change that.

                    If I am wrong, don't just say I am wrong - tell me why.

                    I have told you why. In great detail. Over and over and over again. But you come back and simply repeat your false statements. It's amusing, and a fun pasttime, I'm sure, but I would appreciate it if you actually tried to back up a single false claim you have made about me.

                    You are great at linking to your stuff, so show me where I am wrong.

                    Ha! How do I prove a negative? You insist I have said something I have never said. I think the actual burden of proof is on you to back up what you claim I said.

                    I have yet to find a free edition of Chris' book

                    Ha! First you insist that the free book did not come out. Then when I prove you 100% wrong (again!) you claim that you have not been able to find it. Why not just admit that you were wrong. Your words: "waiting for the free edition (oddly didn't come out the same time as the expensive hard cover version)" Except it did and you were wrong. The fact that you couldn't find it or don't like Google books doesn't change the fact that you were wrong. It just highlights it.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 11 Jul 2009 @ 11:52am

      Re: Old Business model

      Free content supported by advertising is not exactly new. It's the same business model broadcast TV has used since the 1950's applied to newer technology. It's not working as well for TV now because newer technology is slowly replacing it. The business model still works.

      I never suggested it was new. But the fact is that the internet has made it easier to employ such a model.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    CleverName, 11 Jul 2009 @ 10:02am

    Remember econ 101 ?

    There is no such thing as a free lunch.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ntlgnce, 11 Jul 2009 @ 11:02am

    Free? Free?

    I have been paying for content when I can get it free?? OMG, I am going to google right now... I am sure that when others figure this out they will do the same as me. The story is backwards guys.. Go Google.com keep the net free.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Nick, 11 Jul 2009 @ 8:56pm

    Selling to businesses, not individuals

    Google sells plenty of things, but they generally don't bother trying to sell things to individuals (extra storage for Picasa Web albums is the only thing I can think of off the top of my head).

    Individuals they largely give stuff for free to build brand recognition and as beta testing, but businesses they ask for money:
    - advertising revenue
    - Google tools for your intranet (e.g. Google Search Appliance)
    - higher assurance Google Apps (as noted by Lon above)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    simon, 12 Jul 2009 @ 4:21am

    Google

    OK, here's the real question. If Google started tomorrow charging $10 a year to use the basic search engine, would you pay? I would. Hmm,that $3 squillion dollars by my calculation.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Capt. Obvious, 12 Jul 2009 @ 6:52am

      Re: Google

      If Google moved behind a pay wall, it would be the beginning of their end.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    pangolin (profile), 12 Jul 2009 @ 7:52am

    Google paid services

    I used a google paid service - postini for spam. With gmail users to help filter spam Google is leveraging their products. Many were acquired - then used intelligently to work together. At any rate - I would argue that at least postini - a paid service - is a great success.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Yuhong Bao, 12 Jul 2009 @ 7:57pm

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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