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Google Test Searches for Microsoft Weaknesses

Posted on: Monday, 14 March 2005, 09:00 CST

GOOGLE is attacking Bill Gates on his home ground by launching free search software designed to infiltrate the computer desktop market that Microsoft has dominated for 20 years.

Google Desktop Search can be downloaded on to a PC running Microsoft's Windows operating system in minutes. It can be used to carry out key-word searches on all documents, e-mails and the web pages stored in the desktop internet browser, plus all instant messaging. Google Desktop Search can also be used to recover accidentally deleted or misplaced information.

According to Google spokesman Nikhil Bhatla: "We developed Google Desktop Search because users kept asking us why they could never find information from inside their own computer when it only takes seconds to search 8bn web pages using Google."

Whenever anyone with Google Desktop Search running on their PC carries out an ordinary external Google search, the search results from their own computer will also be displayed on top of the results from Google's search of the web. But Google is taking pains to reassure users that their personal data will not be searched by other Google users. "All of the private information from the user's documents, e-mails and any of the other personal data will remain privately and securely stored on the user's PC," said Bhatla.

The launch of Google Desktop Search has pipped Microsoft to the post. The Seattle software giant is also working on a similar desktop search tool. But although Microsoft is conducting trials of its desktop search engine in the US, no launch date has yet been named.

By releasing its tool first, Google has extended its growing brand into a new market. As computing power increasingly moves to the network, Google is well placed to take advantage of the shift from proprietary PC software.

The recently listed Californian dotcom, which has seen its share price triple in recent months, is also reported to be trying to develop software applications aimed at extending its brand into other new markets. Google Video, for example, enables users to search for TV programmes.

Google's Bhatla said: "Our mission is to organise the world's information and that includes the thousands of programmes that play on our TVs every day. Right now, we're just testing the product, so you'll find programmes only from a limited number of channels. You can expect to see more and more content as we continue to add new channels."

Google dismisses reports that it has immediate plans to enter the telecoms market, but refuses to deny that it may offer a telecoms service in the future.

US-based companies such as Skype and Vonage have developed new business models offering free or low-cost phone calls over the internet. Users simply go to a website to make the call and use the internet itself to route the call. This is enabling them to take a big slice of the established operators' market share. According to industry observers, Google plans a similar service under its own brand.

Source: Sunday Business; London (UK)

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