The company 'secretly' unveiled Google Base – a database into which users will be able to add content – sending the 'speculation-o-meter' of media and bloggers 'into overdrive' (digital-lifestyles.info, 27 October).
While Google played Base down, remarking 'we are testing a new way to submit content to Google' (Computer Business Review, 27 October), the rumour mill predicted the death knell for eBay and virtual listings service Craigslist, and even a body blow to traditional ad outlets. 'When Google turns to a new area, rivals quake' (Lex, Financial Times, 26 October). There was talk of a 'global hard drive' (The Times, 26 October), a worldwide developer database (Gartner, vnunet.com, 27 October) and an attempt to 'index the world' (TechSmec.com, 26 October).
The downside of Google's urge to diversify, however, was an undercurrent of fear. 'Google is being viewed with the kind of suspicion once reserved for Bill Gates and Microsoft,' commented The Observer (30 October).
Blogger Rodney Kuhn was more succinct: 'Google vs the world!' (The Business, 30 October).
Analysis conducted by Echo Research from data supplied to PRWeek from NewsNow. www.echoresearch.com www.newsnow.co.uk
While Google played Base down, remarking 'we are testing a new way to submit content to Google' (Computer Business Review, 27 October), the rumour mill predicted the death knell for eBay and virtual listings service Craigslist, and even a body blow to traditional ad outlets. 'When Google turns to a new area, rivals quake' (Lex, Financial Times, 26 October). There was talk of a 'global hard drive' (The Times, 26 October), a worldwide developer database (Gartner, vnunet.com, 27 October) and an attempt to 'index the world' (TechSmec.com, 26 October).
The downside of Google's urge to diversify, however, was an undercurrent of fear. 'Google is being viewed with the kind of suspicion once reserved for Bill Gates and Microsoft,' commented The Observer (30 October).
Blogger Rodney Kuhn was more succinct: 'Google vs the world!' (The Business, 30 October).
Analysis conducted by Echo Research from data supplied to PRWeek from NewsNow. www.echoresearch.com www.newsnow.co.uk
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