Scary Google, AOL, ad deal
p2p news / p2pnet: A Google linked to AOL is a scary Google, even if it is a tiny 5% stake and even if it is worth only a paltry $1 billion.
But it’s getting even scarier.
Advertisements are part of the world of communications and most people accept that. Indeed, indie, non-entrepreneurial sites such as p2pnet literally wouldn’t be here without them. But there are limits – for example, ads that shove themselves into your face when you’re trying to go to a story and which you have to actively click to get beyond; ads that obscure whatever it is you’re trying to read until you close them.
Now, "Users of Google’s search engine will soon see something they are not used to on the notoriously spare site: advertising with logos and graphics," says the New York Times. "And the advertisers will not be limited to America Online, whose talks with Google prompted the change in policy, according to two executives close to the companies’ negotiations.
"As part of their deal, which is expected to be announced this afternoon, Google is providing AOL with $300 million in advertising on Google’s Web sites, intended to use to draw Google search users to related content on AOL’s sites, the executives said. That sum is on top of the $1 billion in cash that Google is to invest to buy a 5 percent stake in AOL."
While AOL owner Time Warner was, "exploring potential deals with Google and Microsoft," it "pressed Google for ways that Google users could be directed to AOL pages," the NYT goes on. "AOL is trying to replace the declining profit from its dial-up subscription business with advertising revenue from free Web sites like AOL.com."
On top of the $300 million advertising deal, "Google has agreed to help put content from AOL on other parts of its site as well" AND, "Google also agreed to provide technical assistance to AOL to help explain how to make its pages easier for Google – and other search engines – to find and include in its index of the Web."
Also See:
New York Times – AOL Coaxes Google to Try Busier Ads, December 20, 2005
scary Google – Google to buy into AOL, December 19, 2005
December 20th, 2005 at 9:58 pm
AdBlock and NoScript rule!!!! He He, they can use all the ads they want. I’ve got the power baby!
December 20th, 2005 at 10:10 pm
makes browsing the net a much nicer (cleaner) experience
December 20th, 2005 at 11:30 pm
CustomizeGoogle
December 21st, 2005 at 3:29 am
I’d be careful talking about blocking ads guys. The next “logical” step in the quest for advertising revenue is to sue anyone who “wilfully interferes in the legitimate business” of advertising by creating, distributing, supplying, installing and using adblocking technologies.
The more you talk about it, the more scared of it they become, and the more extreme and insane their reaction to it will be. Not that i’d ever accuse bigbiz of acting sanely or moderately.
December 21st, 2005 at 4:22 am
Be that as it may, their right to infringe on my viewing space, ends at my controls. I will take the necessary steps to ensure that what I dislike isn’t included in my surfing habits, just as I do today with the **AA’s. They can like it or lump it, I care neither which they do. If they haven’t learned from Sony’s experience as to what that means, then bring it on. They have deep pockets and if they go that far to intrude, I may have a piece of it in a few years.
In the meantime, there is always the odd ball browser. Those such as amaya from linux. Won’t accept cookies, so that can’t get it in that way. Whatever they think the money is worth buying, doesn’t include my agreement to view it.
December 21st, 2005 at 8:00 am
“Google also agreed to provide technical assistance to AOL to help explain how to make its pages easier for Google – and other search engines – to find and include in its index of the Web.”
Jeez’! AOL need to be told how to make their web pages search engine friendly? Are they complete eejits?
December 21st, 2005 at 1:45 pm
This story does not even bear thinking about. For years we’ve watched Google grow and grow and grow; and yet we’ve kept a healthy respect for their ethos and the ingenious ease of use of their search engine. This would appear to change things entirely. For such a ‘right on’ company like Google to align itself with a restrictive, underhand, scheming, slippery and pervasive outfit like AOL is really quite alarming. I, for one, would never use Google ever again if this alliance ever came off and would hope that the myriad of honest and informed P2P users around the world would do likewise. This reeks to high heaven of a sell-out.
December 21st, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Google is a marketing and advertising company the search engine is just a hook to keep you going back to thier website .
Just like TV shows are a filler for the ADs .
December 21st, 2005 at 5:05 pm
Of course, that’s understood. But is there not a perception that they, at least, were unlike the ruthless suits and media moguls that drive the cartoon n hamburger Time/Warner and their ’sister’ companies? No-one is doubting the vast wealth and influence that Google now boasts, but let’s face it – anyone who has ever had dealings with AOL, on almost any level, would surely be hard-pressed to say anything positive about them, their product or their methods.
December 22nd, 2005 at 12:40 am
Next they’ll be asking us to pay them AND they’ll show us ads.
December 22nd, 2005 at 2:08 pm
Yep AOL are total are total twats. Look at IM system everyone use to use ICQ err, AOL messed that one up. No on to Winamp err they are messing that one up now.
AOL is the best at having high used product and totaly messing up time and time again.