Looking back at 2007, we will remember it as a year Google finally grew up and showed its true colors. Sure there was Facebook and all the hoopla around its platform and privacy, but the big story of year was still Google. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company that still gets a majority of its revenues from advertising made moves that would help expand its reach into new markets.
Wireless, Voice and Applications were three areas of major push – and if that meant taking on the telcos, the FCC, Microsoft, Wikipedia and even Facebook, so be it. And along the way it is estimated to add $1.7 billion to its $10 billion or so sales in 2006. No wonder it commands a market capitalization of $217 billion. Here are some of the major developments of a very Google-y 2007.
- January 2007: Crosses $10 billion in sales.
- February 2007: Google Office, ready for business. Microsoft beware.
- March 2007: Announces its 700 MHz spectrum plans, taken on Verizon, AT&T.
- March 2007: Viacom sues Google for $1 Billion.
- April 2007: Buys Doubleclick for $3.1 billion.
- May 2007: Launches Streetside View for Maps.
- June 2007: Buys Grandcentral.
- June 2007: Buys Feedburner
- July 2007: Buys Postini.
- August 2007: CFO Greg Reyes retires.
- August 2007: YouTube launches embedded inline advertising.
- September 2007: GoogleNet is going global
- October 2007: Buys Jaiku
- October 2007: Launches OpenSocial, takes on Facebook
- November 2007: Launches Android, Mobile Platform, taken on Microsoft, Nokia, Others
- November 2007: Announces plans to produce GigaWatt of clean energy.
- December 2007: Launches Knol, takes on Wikipedia
Google has had a busy 2007, I’d expect even more in 2008.
When are we going to see a Yahoo-type portal on Google.com homepage? With so many properties with Google, I guess they will have to eventually do it someday.
@Anand, they already have iGoogle. :)
Hi Anand, they have iGoogle page that is most visited property of Google this year.
Seriously, even their increase in sales doesn’t justify their current marketcap. Let’s cool the bubble hype down.
What was the outcome of the Viacom lawsuit? I guess I could do a search, but it seems like that is the only bad thing in the list above. I’m just really happy that the amount of storage for Gmail was increased.
Mark W
nothing has been resolved on the Viacom lawsuit front just yet. I think it is going to be a major story next year, and clearly Viacom is putting its own plans in place to compete.
@ Mike B,
Well, no argument there about their over inflated market capitalization. The big story next year will be: can they keep it up.
@Pushkar, Chris
I agree with you both to an extent. If you go by the definition of a ‘portal’, yes iGoogle is a portal. But I see it as Google’s equivalent of MyYahoo – a personalized desktop. I may have not articulated properly, but I was just referring to the Google homepage getting cluttered with more of their property in the future.
Very impressive 2007, what do they have in 2008? We really don’t know.. keep us posted gigaom!
Nhick
http://www.itrush.com
I’m waiting for Joptspot in Google APPs.
And accounting application google apps
More work on Blogger to take on wordpress.
Gmail with TO do list and Calender integartion just like Outlook :)
Yes more feataures will be coming and blogosphere will be going nuts and Share price will touch 1000 USD
I wish i had few :)
The best deal in 2007 that left rivals looking flat-footed was Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick, the Web advertising group.Great to see smart people like the Google team investing in sensible companies.
Parul
http://www.bhopu.com
I think the Doubleclick and to some extent Grandcentral were their key moves of the year. I think the next year will be about execution for them, and lets see how well they do there.
who will win out Google or Exchange2007? Im betting the companies that offer hosted exchange and give good customer service will do well.
You forgot Google’s acquisition of GreenBorder – the real motivation for that was the need to make the google browser (under development) bullet proof secure. 2k8 will see the release of goog browser with built in google gears, greenborder and it will not be based on mozilla.
Very nice compilation for Google, now only if i could get all my christmas wishes as Google had theirs this year…
Happy Holidays!
@Chris
iGoogle was by far not the most visited Google property. It was the fastest growing property, but starting from a low level.
I like googles applications and when googles translator does a better job of japanese to english I may love them.
@ Anand
Google’s vision has always been to keep things simple, but at the same time provide the best and most relevant information to users. Their UI on their home page is simple and straightforward. I’m pretty sure that how its always gonna be. So i dont think you’re gonna get cluttered portal’s like on Yahoo.com.
When was 23andme.com acquired?