AOL Search Archive

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==> TOPIC: Consequences At AOL Over Disclosing Search Data
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #085
New Discussion

From: SearchReturn <digest@searchreturn.com>

http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060821-142810

Essentials: Maureen Govern, former CTO of AOl, was apparently let go along with the research employee who published millions of AOL searches. Although the data on its face does not reveal any personally identifying information, the queries themselves made discovering users very possible.

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==> TOPIC: Millions Of AOL Searches
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #083
New Discussion

From: SearchReturn <digest@searchreturn.com>

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4116578.html

Essentials: While AOL moves towards an advertising based business model, they slipped up by publishing 19 million search queries from 658,000 AOL search users. What appears like an honest mistake last week has proved difficult for the company to explain away. Even if no personally identifiable information was released directly, revealing these search data allowed analysis that outted some users easily identified by their search activity.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a complaint with the FTC describing AOL's mistake as warranting notifying the affected users, and providing a years worth of credit monitoring against identity theft. In the keynote by Eric Schmidt at Search Engine Strategies last week, the Google CEO commented on the privacy issues search engine queries raise, and that such information is some of the most sensitive assets the company has under heavy guard.

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==> TOPIC: Google Extends AOL Partnership
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #025
New Discussion

From: SearchReturn <digest@searchreturn.com>

Essentials: With Microsoft entering the search space, they tried very hard to come to terms with AOL for replacing Google as the default search engine and power the search ads. Google came out of the discussions extending their partnership with AOL for an additional 5 years. As part of the deal, $1 billion dollars buys a 5% stake in AOL for Google, and $330 million dollars buys Google advertsing (incluing image ads) for AOL.

AOL represented about 10% of Google's 2005 revenue, so this may be a large amount of cash for the deal. It accomplishes some key things for Google which may make it a worthwhile gamble. It holds Google's search marketshare dominance for the time being, and the AOL investment can be sold off half way through the 5-year time period. It is a serious loss of opportunity for Microsoft who might otherwise have had a major search marketshare gain.

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==> TOPIC: AOL Google
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #023
New Discussion

From: SearchReturn <digest@searchreturn.com>

http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051216-124401

Also see: http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051219-161144

Essentials: It looks like AOL search results will continue to be powered by Google. Major AOL investor Carl Icahn is not happy. Carl has written an open letter and reportedly has plans to derail the deal.

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==> TOPIC: MSN AOL Close At Hand
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #021
New Discussion

From: SearchReturn <digest@searchreturn.com>

http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs021.shtml

Essentials: Although Google should not be counted out until the decision is announced, it appears that MSN is trying to close the deal before the end of the year. Will Google be left standing when the music stops?

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==> TOPIC: AOL
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #008
"Users and access. Google can posture all it wants about WiFi and dark fiber, but it can consolidate its user base and ensure access to IP data and direct pipelines with those users overnight."

From: Mike Moran <mikmoran@us.ibm.com>

It is out of character for Google to look to grow through acquisition--in the past they've acquired technology, not customers--but even though they are the leaders in search, they trail as a portal. Google is smart enough to know that the future of search is a personalized one, and they can't maintain their position in search without creating a relationship with their users. Today, Google's customers are its advertisers, not its searchers, leaving them vulnerable to being outflanked the way publishers are susceptible to retailers like Amazon who know which consumers are actually buying the books.

Yahoo! is well ahead of Google as a portal, with years of offering e-mail, personalized news, commerce, and other goodies that get people to divulge e-mail addresses, interests, and other personal information. Microsoft and AOL even have their customers' credit card numbers. Google has started to make progress with Gmail and other services and the Google toolbar reveals a lot about surfers even if they remain anonymous, but to maintain the kind of growth they need, Google needs to know even more about their consuming public.

To me, this is the best strategic reason for acquiring AOL--it is a database of customers that gives them instant relationships. Just like a TV network, AOL's content (and functions) draw the audience but the value is more than just the eyeballs---AOL knows who the eyeballs belong to. No guesses as to who will win the battle to acquire AOL or a piece of AOL (and maybe Time Warner will decide to bide its time), but every major player has the same reason to acquire AOL, whether it is MSN, Yahoo!, or even ask.com's Barry Diller.

Mike Moran

Distinguished Engineer and Manager of Site Architecture, ibm.com
Co-author of IBM Press book, "Search Engine Marketing, Inc."
http://www.mikemoran.com

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==> TOPIC: GOOGLE & AOL
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #007
"Is Google solidifying its relations with AOL in reaction to a potential Microsoft AOL partnership?"

From: Andrew Goodman <agoodman@gmail.com>

It's funny to think of the Golden Boys this way, but about now, I would argue that -- if talks are proceeding anyway with rival buyers -- Google is actually fairly *desperate* to get a piece of AOL, and eager to make close friends with a large pipeline player like Comcast.

Two reasons:

(1) Users and access. Google can posture all it wants about WiFi and dark fiber, but it can consolidate its user base and ensure access to IP data and direct pipelines with those users overnight by buying into this, not merely by "building a better product" and hoping. If Google doesn't grow, then its rivals get stronger. Especially if that rival is MS.

(2) Management. If Google is to mature, it needs some steady hands not at "the" helm, but at the many little Go-Kart steering wheels that involve running a business with multiple operating units. It can get all the geeks it wants. And the company from top to bottom can laugh all they like at traditional corporate culture. But at this Big Media level, those managerial things come in handy, freeing the core of Googlers to do what they want to do. So they need middle and upper management. An AOL acquisition could help with that.

It could be a fairly healthy thing for the user if Google could help wean the diehards off dialup or even slow DSL, and into a new era of connectivity. It would also be productive for the economy as a whole.

MS is no doubt going to be bidding against them. Lucky AOL. They now have a bidding war for their unimpressive company. :)

--
Andrew Goodman
Page Zero Media
*Now shipping*: Winning Results with Google AdWords

Moderator Comment: Yahoo! enters discussions with AOL as well.

http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/051014-171319

Recent moves to open AOL's premium portal content may be behind all the talking.

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==> TOPIC: MICROSOFT & AOL
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #006
"They are in talks again. How would this work out for the pair?"

From: Jennifer Laycock <jennifer@searchengineguide.com>

I guess the old adage "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" holds true in this case. Years back, I would have laughed at someone that suggested that Microsoft and AOL might eventually team up. But today, in the strange world that is the search wars, it makes good sense.

AOL doesn't seem to have any plans to develop their own algorithm, though they have done a nice job of developing specialized search tools as of late. That means that they hold no particular loyalty to any of the engines. All Microsoft needs to do is offer a better revenue share on ads than Google does and they should have a pretty easy sell (buy?).

I've long held that this is where Microsoft has the chance to topple Google. With Google relying primarily on advertising, rather than software sales to pay their bills, they've put themselves in a somewhat precarious position. If Microsoft can offer a high enough revenue share to tempt Google partners away (think AdSense, portal partnerships, etc...) then site owners have little reason to stay loyal.

With Microsoft's deep pockets, they could theoretically offer a high enough share that they were *losing* money, and still manage to hold out long enough to do serious harm to Google. (Though this tactic would have been far more feasible a year or so ago when Google wasn't carrying around a wallet with more money than... [insert favorite deity name here] )

At this point, I doubt we'll see that happen. Instead, I think we're more likely to see the field draw close to even with Google, Yahoo! and MSN forming a rotating trifecta of search. There's no reason to think that only one company can dominate. There's a pretty big pie out there and even divided three ways with some scraps for the rest of the field, that's a pretty filling meal.

Jennifer Laycock
http://www.searchengineguide.com

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==> TOPIC: GOOGLE AOL (COMCAST)
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #006
"It's war out there folks especially between MS and Google."

From: Digest <digest@searchreturn.com>

Interesting discussions are being held among most major players in the search / portal / access / Web services arena. It's like a game of musical chairs right now, and it'll be interesting to see who's left standing when the music stops.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/051012/media_aol.html

Like water, flour, and yeast, mix a popular search engine, with a major content property, add a dash of high-speed access and you get the makings of a mega-portal. Is Google solidifying its relations with AOL in reaction to a potential Microsoft AOL partnership? If so, Comcast wants to join the party.

It is difficult to see how Microsoft could partner with AOL. Right now though, anything's possible. Jennifer notes in her post today: "I would have laughed at someone that suggested that Microsoft and AOL might eventually team up." That is still one potential outcome to all this talking.

With the announcement that Microsoft messenger client will cooperate with Yahoo! Instant Messenger, Microsoft may have it more difficult convincing AOL to use them instead of Google for search services. MSN Search is a Johnny Come Lately to search. They could give up more ad revenue than Google, but would that make any sense at all when Google already gives AOL such a lion's share?

Who do you think will be left standing when the music stops?

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==> TOPIC: MICROSOFT & AOL
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Originally posted in SearchReturn #005
New Discussion

From: Digest <digest@searchreturn.com>

The software giant, Microsoft, has a number of search initiatives that need users. A deal with AOL could be ideal for Microsoft to lift their search audience considerably, and in short order. Powering AOL Search would automatically qualify them as a major contender. Powering Sponsored Listings as part of the deal would shift ad revenue to Microsoft, revenue that Google currently enjoys.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9618558/

They are in talks again. How would this work out for the pair? A deal of this magnitude, could give Microsoft the sure-footed standing in the search business that it out-spokenly desires.

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"Detlef, I'm glad you've revived your version of I-Search. It's a fantastic resource and I always look forward to reading it." -Jeff Hinds