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March 19, 2004

Ah! Ah! You are not alone! For an estimated 75% of Internet users, when searching for a topic, a word, or an address, one name automatically comes to mind: Google. The Internet search engine has become so popular all over the world (55 millions use it in Europe alone) that the verb ?to google? has become a staple in ordinary parlance, awaiting its official entry into the Webster Dictionary.

Google, that came to life around 1998, replaced older search engine technologies. If you do remember, during those ancient times, a site had to be listed by the engine in order to be picked up by a search. Thanks to Google, the only step your site has to take, is to be on line. Google will catch up with it.

Once upon a time, one had to pay to have a site on top of the search engine list. With Google the ranking is automatic; it is based on the number of hits and links to the site. You should however be warned that some disingenuous webmasters and web owners have entertained to manipulate Google?s technology in order to place their product at the top. How do they do that? I don?t know.

Google is so popular, that it was voted the #1 brand (for use and performance) in the world in 2003, ahead of Apple and the mini-car. Coca-Cola came only #4!

Now, here is a one-billion dollar question for you: How does one make money out of building an Internet search engine that is fundamentally, like the Christian church, free, free to be used by anyone who can hop on the information super highway? I can?t figure it out, but it looks like that Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google co-founders, have found a way. The young masters have made this year?s Forbes List of Billionaires, with one billion dollar each.

Even if one billion dollars is only 1,000 piles of 1 million dollars, there are only 587 people in the world who have that many (or more) piles. Topping the list are Microsoft founder, Bill Gates with 46 billions, Warren Buffet (investment guru) with 42 billions, Karl Albretch (the German behind the Aldi Supermarket chain) 23 billions, a Saudi Prince with 21.5 billions, and Paul Allen (Microsoft co-founder) with 21 billions.

The Google boys are only 552nd on the List, exactly as rich as the richest woman in Great Britain, not the Queen, but JK Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter. Let us be honest, most of us would not mind being even the last on the list of billionaires? with a search engine for others to find us.

http://www.jeanlouie.com/

(OdlerRobert Jeanlouie, Friday, March 19, 2004)