TechWeb's Internet Evolution Cites Top 10 Google Disappointments

Social network efforts, NASA partnership, corporate culture not all they're cracked up to be

PRNewswire
NEW YORK
(:UBM.L)
Aug 11, 2008

NEW YORK, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Google may be the darling of Wall Street and opinion leaders in technology, but the search engine giant has also made its share of blunders -- 10 of them, to be exact, according to TechWeb's Internet Evolution, a Web 2.0 site dedicated to investigating the future of the Internet.

In a report published today, Internet Evolution enumerates the Top 10 Google Disappointments that range from development and product issues to the dark side of its much touted laissez-faire culture.

In addition to a corporate culture that's riddled with excess and contradiction, the report is also critical of Google's social networking efforts with Orkut, OpenSocial, and FriendConnect, as well as a largely dormant partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Other disappointments includes its much hyped Gphone, and a variety of other services including Gmail, Google Apps for Education, and Knol, among others.

To read the report click here: http://www.internetevolution.com/document.asp?doc_id=159196

The intent of the report was to bust through the hype that greets almost everything Google does, according to Internet Evolution Editor in Chief Terry Sweeney. "Between its financial performance and dominant position in the search engine business, Google generates mostly unabashed praise for its efforts and initiatives," Sweeney said. "Our report takes a more critical look as Google struggles to expand beyond its core strengths in search and advertising."

About Internet Evolution

Internet Evolution hosts more than 100 world-famous Internet experts -- such as Kevin Mitnick, once the most-wanted computer hacker in the world; Dr. Lawrence Roberts, inventor of packet switching, and one of the world's foremost authorities on telecom network architectures; Jack Uldrich, futurist, scholar, and author; Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist.com; David Weinberger, technologist and co-author of The Cluetrain Manifesto; Howard Schmidt, former White House cybersecurity adviser; and Norman J. Ornstein, political scientist and a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) -- all of whom are addressing today's critical socio-economic issues within its ThinkerNet blogosphere. Internet Evolution also offers broadcast-quality broadband video documentaries and interviews; investigative reports; and user-generated content facilitated via the latest Web 2.0 technology.

About TechWeb (formerly CMP)

TechWeb, the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 10 million business technology professionals actively engage with and rely on our global face-to-face events, including Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market-leading, award-winning InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, TechNet, and MSDN magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services ranging from next-generation performance marketing, custom media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

   Contact
   Amy Averbook
   TechWeb's Internet Evolution
   (212) 925-0020 x112
   averbook@lightreading.com

SOURCE: Internet Evolution

CONTACT: Amy Averbook, TechWeb's Internet Evolution, +1-212-925-0020,
x112, averbook@lightreading.com

Web site: http://www.internetevolution.com/document.asp?doc_id=159196
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/