What is the significance of Microsoft’s recent deal to create an alliance with Yahoo and its search-based confrontation with Google? While using an Internet search engine is simple and most of us think little of it, access to this technology is profoundly changing our world.
According to Andrian Kreve of Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung:
“Google is a corporation that monopolizes questions. And in the digital economy of the 21st century, questions are a raw material worth more than money, gold and oil combined. … Those who compete for the questions of humanity want more than to entertain – they want to play a role in every area of our lives.”
By Andrian Kreve
Translated By Jonathan Lobsien
July 31, 2009
Germany – Sueddeutsche Zeitung – Original Article (German)
In this case, first of all, there is a lot of money at stake. Last year, Microsoft bid billions for Yahoo [$44.6 billion]. Now instead of a buyout, it’s settling for a partnership. Because ultimately Microsoft isn’t that interested in the Yahoo brand and its revenue. The ultimate goal is to combine Microsoft’s new search engine “Bing” and the digital clientele of Yahoo to create a serious competitor for Google. Because indeed, Google is the household name of Internet search engines. But this is an understated paraphrase. Google is a corporation that monopolizes questions. And in the digital economy of the 21st century, questions are a raw material worth more than money, gold and oil combined.
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