Your Google Phone Is Coming, Sorta, Next Year, Journal Says

From the Journal:

Google Inc. is close to unveiling its long-planned strategy to shake up the wireless market, people familiar with the matter say. The Web giant's ambitious goal: to make applications and services as accessible on cellphones as they are on the Internet.

In a move likely to kick off an intense debate about the future shape of the cellphone industry, Google wants to make it easier for cellphone customers to get a variety of extra services on their phones -- from maps to social-networking features to video-sharing. To get its way, however, the search giant will have to overcome resistance from wireless carriers and deal with potentially thorny security and privacy issues.

What I want to know is this: Will I be locked into certain software apps on my Google phone - or can I treat it with the same indifference I do with the PC Internet? In other words, will I be able to wipe the Google apps off, and use other apps if I choose to? Or is this going to be a distribution play for Google's apps?

A clue is here in the article:

The Google-powered phones are expected to wrap together several Google applications -- among them, its search engine, Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail email -- that have already made their way onto some mobile devices. The most radical element of the plan, though, is Google's push to make the phones' software "open" right down to the operating system, the layer that controls applications and interacts with the hardware. That means independent software developers would get access to the tools they need to build additional phone features.

But that still doesn't tell me if I can use the phone as a blank slate, so to speak, or if I have to use Google software.

• Posted by John Battelle at 11:12 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Sphere It

Facebook, Privacy, Mo' Money, Maka Maka

You go away for a few days, and what happens.

- A Facebook privacy kerfuffle (I asked folks at Facebook about this, the response: Facebook respects user privacy and access to site usage and profile information is restricted at the company. Any Facebook employees found to be engaged in improper access to user data will be disciplined or terminated).

- More rumors of an impending Google counterstrike, code named Maka Maka.

- Yet more rumors that two hedge funds have matched Microsoft's $15bb valuation and tossed another $500mm into Facebook's coffers.

What to make of all this?

Well, first, the privacy issues is a very real one for Facebook, because, well, it's the heart of how the company intends to make good on that $15bb valuation. Knowing a lot about its users is key to the Facebook answer to AdWords. For more insight on what I'm on about, read about how Facebook chooses newsfeed items. It's quite revealing (right down to the idea of News Feed Optimization). In short, Facebook can't afford to have the privacy issue go sideways right now.

And speaking of affording, all that new money will come in handy for M&A. It has to, because now that the bar is set at $15bb, I'm guessing entreprenuers who might have otherwise been interested in selling to Facebook for stock might reconsider the upside given such a lofty pre-IPO valuation. Facebook still has a lot to prove, and cash is still king.

• Posted by John Battelle at 6:51 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (3)
• Sphere It

Travelin

Off to a very quick trip to NYC in the very early morning, then a fast trip to Vegooooooose. Vacation, baby.

• Posted by John Battelle at 7:46 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Sphere It

Facebook and Microsoft

So it has happened (WSJ paid). What to make of it?

I was in a meeting in the Valley when this went down, so I'm late to the analysis party. I have no idea if anyone has said this yet, I am sure someone has. But - if there is not insight/boxing out/exclusivity into the new Facebook Social Ads platform as part of this deal, I don't get it.

If there is, it's a slam dunk. Or maybe for Microsoft, it's worth the valuation just to keep Google from having the remnant ad deal in Europe. But I doubt it.

I want to know what the terms are, and by that, I don't mean the financial terms. I mean the stuff that is not being announced - the agreements to work together on the upcoming Facebook platform, the ability for Microsoft to sell into the Facebook domain proper, etc. At the very least, some guarantee that Google can't work with Facebook on any future ad platforms that might be developed. And of course, search distribution, which was not confirmed in the conference call, from coverage I could find.

Maybe it comes down to this: Microsoft won, Google lost. If that's the case, OK, but...the real winner here is Facebook. At least, until it has to earn into a $15 billion valution. Good luck with that if social ads doesn't pan out. On the other hand, well, congratulations for getting money so cheap.

The long and short of it for me is, the more insight into Facebook's core business this buys Microsoft, the better it is for Microsoft. How much did they buy with this? No idea. But to think that Microsoft isn't prototyping exactly what Facebook is already building (social advertising) is to not be thinking - it'd be criminal to not be in this game if you are Microsoft, or Yahoo, or Google. You have to be. So how do those two things square - an investment in Facebook, and a commitment to develop an advertising platform that competes with Facebook?

The Journal's point of view on this is .... instructive. I think no one in the mainstream press has truly grokked what Facebook has a shot at doing - Adsense driven not by search queries, but by personal profile. It could be a major, major new platform, if we, as a culture, take to it. It's not a given, but it's a very compelling vision.

The high valuation for Facebook is the latest sign of a renewed exuberance in Silicon Valley over Internet companies with lots of users -- even if those users haven't yet translated into a lot of revenue -- and is reminiscent of the Internet bubble that ended in 2000. Microsoft and Facebook say the valuation is justified and that Facebook is starting to find ways to monetize its rapidly growing user base.

Well, sure they are. The big question is this: will Microsoft get to see what they are doing, and work with them, or are they going to be relegated to selling secondary banner inventory? I have no idea. Do you?

• Posted by John Battelle at 6:50 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (16)
• Sphere It

Social Advertising

The hints of Facebook's next move continue.

"You are invited to a discussion with Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook executive team as we unveil a new way of advertising online."

I have to say, I do not see why MSFT or Google are competing to get a chunk of Facebook, given what this announcement is most likely to be.

What is it likely to be? Er, a competitor to AdCenter and AdSense, of course. A syndicated play, without a doubt. Has to be. Unless that chunk comes with some serious intel, I'd save the money and plow it into competing.

• Posted by John Battelle at 10:32 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (7)
• Sphere It

John Doerr at Summit

The video is not up yet, but honestly, I found John's message utterly compelling. A good review of it here.

• Posted by John Battelle at 8:37 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Sphere It

GoogleClick in Europe: We'll "Preserve Some Business Practices"

Not sure exactly which practices, and the reporter on this Bloomberg piece apparently does not care to find out, any ideas?

``In response to third-party concerns, Google has committed to the European Commission that we will keep certain DoubleClick business practices unchanged,'' Julia Holtz, Google's London- based competition lawyer, said in an e-mailed statement. The acquisition is ``a good deal'' for publishers, advertisers and users, she said.

• Posted by John Battelle at 8:49 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Sphere It

Conversation with HP's Vyomesh Joshi

• Posted by John Battelle at 11:35 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (2)
• Sphere It

Murdoch and DeWolfe Conversation

This one was also a lot of fun, it's always nice to relax after dinner and get a little loose. The conversation had plenty of news, as well - Chris and Rupert announced a new contract (two more years for Chris and partner Tom), and discussed how the platform would open up as well.

Click To Play

• Posted by John Battelle at 8:59 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Sphere It

The Mark Zuckerberg Conversation

Some coverage of this conversation claim I was too hard on Mark. I don't think so, and I think he was pretty savvy in his response. His first answer left me a bit speechless, I'll admit - I am used to folks saying no comment when I ask about on going negotiations....

• Posted by John Battelle at 8:55 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (8)
• Sphere It

Steve Ballmer Conversation

Probably my favorite, at least, the most fun. Check out what happens when I ask Steve about search (about 21 minutes in). Just amazing.

• Posted by John Battelle at 7:54 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (2)
• Sphere It

Facebook All Hands

I posed the first question of the Web 2 Summit\ to Mark Zuckerberg (video). "How's the funding going," I asked him. "We're nearly done," he replied.

Owen has a scoop: An all hands has reportedly been called for Tuesday for all Facebook employees. As someone who has called all hands meetings for hundreds of employees (at the Standard and at Wired), this does not happen without a very significant reason.

Perhaps Mark is now done...

• Posted by John Battelle at 7:33 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (2)
• Sphere It

Wow.

Web 2 was amazing, exhausting, and exhilarating. Thanks for all the kind words from readers, pals, and colleagues. The video is starting to trickle out, check the home page for all the links. It was really, really fun to interview Zuckerberg, Murdoch, DeWolfe, Ballmer, Stephenson, Doerr, and more. Wow. What a privilege. And so much fun! The Web Bowl was hilarious, LaunchPad was awesome....four years in, it just keeps getting better.

Now, to sleep.

• Posted by John Battelle at 7:26 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (2)
• Sphere It

Nearly There

We're rounding the corner and into the home stretch at Web 2, today we hear from J. Craig Venter, Randall Stephenson of AT&T, the Google Alumni Club (folks who left Google recently) and John Doerr (who is on Google's board).

Speaking of the company, it killed earnings again yesterday...

• Posted by John Battelle at 7:19 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Sphere It

Journalists Of All Stripes May Get Shield Law (That Includes Us Bloggers)

From ars:

The Free Flow of Information Act has just cleared the House by a vote of 398-21, but that doesn't mean President Bush has any interest in signing it. The bill would offer protection of sources and documents to journalists (including professional bloggers) caught up in federal investigations, and could put an end to images of reporters led from court in handcuffs after refusing to testify. The Bush administration sees it as carte blanche to leak government information without penalty, though.

<rant on>Sorry Bush administration, this one is your bad. IF we can't shield sources, the terrorists win, to turn your language around. Because democracy depends on folks standing up to overreaching powers that be. Including Presidents.

I for one hope that Bush vetoes it, and then is overridden. It'd be a very sweet victory.

• Posted by John Battelle at 11:29 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (6)
• Sphere It

I Love Headlines in the Times Like This

Silicon Valley Start-Ups Awash in Dollars, Again

No kidding?!

• Posted by John Battelle at 9:39 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (4)
• Sphere It

Viacom: Thanks, But We're Still Suing

Mediapost:

NOW THAT GOOGLE HAS UNVEILED technology to prevent the illicit access of copyrighted video on YouTube, what impact will it have on the Viacom copyright infringement lawsuit? 'None at all,' Viacom said this week.

"It doesn't have any impact," said Viacom spokesman Jeremy Zweig. "Or at least it's very premature to try and figure out the impact it could have on the litigation."

• Posted by John Battelle at 9:14 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Sphere It

The Yahoo Platform

Don't count Yahoo out. They have tons of engaged users/readers/audience members, and a Valley ethos. From a report on their generally well recieved earnings, which came out today:

"Our goal is to create a motivated community of developers all building uniquely compelling applications that reach hundreds of millions of Yahoo users by plugging into the most popular properties or services," Yang told analysts. Sounds familiar? Yahoo hopes to use its own big brand to create an ecosystem, a term tech companies love to use meaning a whole world unto itself, like Facebook.

I knew this whole Web as platform thing wasn't a fad...

• Posted by John Battelle at 10:20 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (5)
• Sphere It

Designing Google For LinkBait

This is funny. I saw a number of folks from Google at various parties tonight (Web 2 is about to start) and they were buzzing about this...
But if Google designed for Google, then, who would be Google?
I think I'll have to ask Steve Ballmer and Mark Zuckerberg that question. Maybe Randall Stephenson, of AT&T....

• Posted by John Battelle at 10:02 PM
• Permalink
• Comments (7)
• Sphere It

More Facebook Google Fun

Google is actively recruiting third-party developers with applications on Facebook to run Adsense ads within applications pages, VentureBeat has learned.

• Posted by John Battelle at 11:53 AM
• Permalink
• Comments (2)
• Sphere It