Google: More Aggressive Sales in DC

December 4, 2008

The Washington Post here revealed that Google wants to move the US government toward Google’s application platform. The newspaper and Google called this cloud computing, but the notion is that the US government can save money and improve its work flow by letting Google handle the computers and the software. Government professionals can just use the GOOG. “Google Goes to Washington, Gearing Up to Put Its Stamp on Government” by Kim Hart does a good job of reporting a push that has been increasing over the last 12 months. For me the most interesting portions of the article are those which provide data about Google’s reach; for example, the District of Columbia has more than 30,000 people using Google’s services. Another comment that caught my attention was:

Google’s foray into government business is not only a sign of the company’s expansion into other industries, it’s also a sign of the changes underway in Washington’s technology landscape. New firms are moving in, branching out and making deals, perhaps beginning to blur the line between the robust government contracting world and the consumer-minded firms that continue to take chances and thrive.

My take on this is slightly different, which is normal goose behavior. Specifically, Google’s office is busy because government agencies are contacting Google to talk about the firm’s products and services. In my experience, Google needs only to answer email and the phone. The firm’s magnetic pull is responsible for the strong uptake of Google Search Appliances, Google Maps, and other services. Other companies have to work much harder to get in to see top executives. Google is a big deal and the Googlers are viewed as minor celebrities.

As the ad business growth slows, Googzilla will become more of a disruptive force in the government sector and in the enterprise. Companies that once ignored the GOOG will have to adjust and fast.

Stephen Arnold, December 4, 2008

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under Business strategy, Cloud computing, Enterprise, Google, News, Technology

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.