Google Takes More Market Share
December 20, 2008
I got some flak for my assertion at the Enterprise Search Summit in September 2008. I stated bluntly that Google had won. Well, some folks did not like that remark. These wizards will want to skip the comScore ratings for November 2008. Don’t read the Houston Chronicle’s run down here. The newspaper’s Web site provide a detailed summary of what comScore’s report on the search horse race said. In a nutshell, the Google’s market share rose. Microsoft and Yahoo lost ground. I stand by my comment in San Jose. The attendance was, shall we say, somewhat disappointing. Nevertheless, the handful of search attendees heard it from me. “The GOOG has won Web search.” If you have other data to disprove my assertion, let me know. Conference organizers and attendees that don’t want to hear plain talk will want to skip the comScore league table as well. The ostrich approach works pretty well for traditional media, dead tree publishers, and those of similar ilk.
Stephen Arnold, December 20, 2008
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5 Responses to “Google Takes More Market Share”
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Steve,
Personally speaking, my issue with you’re assertion that Google had “Won” stems from the fact that you made these statements at the Enterprise Search Summit. By saying Google had won at this venue, it’s only natural that people would think you you were sayingGoogle was dominiating Enterprise Search. I don’t think there are many that disagree that Google is dominating Internet Search. I use them all the time. Google dominating Enterprise Search is a stretch. They are doing well, but not dominating this market.
Cheers,
Martin
Martin Muldoon,
Thanks for taking the time to write. Upfront let me say I remain firm in my view of Google, search, and the enterprise. Perhaps, I ask, think that you, like most Google watchers, see what you are able to perceive within your environment? William James called this human trait “a certain blindness”. Now this goose looks at the 25,500 Google Search Appliances, the Google GSA 2009 pricing that makes upgrading a bargain, the uptake of Google Maps and Apps, and the media push given the GOOG as indicative of Google’s enterprise success. Isn’t my point nothing more than a spotlight on Google as a disruptive force? Perhaps I am not clear enough in pointing out that the smart vendors have adapted? I’m am sure most Enterprise Search Summit denizens know that Google has widened its lead in Web search as the economy has deteriorated. Is it possible that some folks don’t include Google’s education plays in Fairfax, VA and New South Wales as part of Google’s enterprise strategy? I assert that shen these school children matriculate, some will think Google is the way to use a computer. Did you know that the Pope has gone Googley, dumping Mondosoft for the Google Search Appliance? Let me restate my closing comment that I used in each of my 2008 lectures., “Surf on Google.” In my opinion, smart money looks for waves and rides them. I have documented in my Google studies that dear Googzilla is a wave generator. Furthermore, there are some big winners in the information access sector right under Google’s nose, but these companies have gone “beyond search”, and I think these outfits will be among the first to emphasize their distinct value propositions in order to exploit post Google world. As I demonstrated in the 2004 Enterprise Search Report, which I wrote, the search ecosystem had changed by 2004. Some people are like my goldfish in their tank. I can move the tank, pump, water, and fish to a new place. The fish are clueless about that location. I start my fact collection with the 25,000 GSAs, the dominance of Google Maps and its associated search function, and the education push. These may not be enterprise as defined by the eclectic, almost inert Enterprise Search Summit and Dialog / LexisNexis power base. My examples of Google’s enterprise successes define search to this goose. Those defeating Google are working in different areas of information access. The companies I think one should watch can surf on Google, not wait for the wave to drown them.
Stephen Arnold, December 20, 2008
Martin Muldoon,
Thanks for taking the time to write. Upfront let me say I remain firm in my view of Google, search, and the enterprise. Perhaps, I ask, think that you, like most Google watchers, see what you are able to perceive within your environment? William James called this human trait “a certain blindness”. Now this goose looks at the 25,500 Google Search Appliances, the Google GSA 2009 pricing that makes upgrading a bargain, the uptake of Google Maps and Apps, and the media push given the GOOG as indicative of Google’s enterprise success. Isn’t my point nothing more than a spotlight on Google as a disruptive force? Perhaps I am not clear enough in pointing out that the smart vendors have adapted? I’m am sure most Enterprise Search Summit denizens know that Google has widened its lead in Web search as the economy has deteriorated. Is it possible that some folks don’t include Google’s education plays in Fairfax, VA and New South Wales as part of Google’s enterprise strategy? I assert that when these school children matriculate, some will think Google is the way to use a computer. Did you know that the Pope has gone Googley, dumping Mondosoft for the Google Search Appliance? Let me restate my closing comment that I used in each of my 2008 lectures., “Surf on Google.” In my opinion, smart money looks for waves and rides them. I have documented in my Google studies that dear Googzilla is a wave generator. Furthermore, there are some big winners in the information access sector right under Google’s nose, but these companies have gone “beyond search”, and I think these outfits will be among the first to emphasize their distinct value propositions in order to exploit post Google world. As I demonstrated in the 2004 Enterprise Search Report, which I wrote, the search ecosystem had changed by 2004. Some people are like my goldfish in their tank. I can move the tank, pump, water, and fish to a new place. The fish are clueless about that location. I start my fact collection with the 25,000 GSAs, the dominance of Google Maps and its associated search function, and the education push. These may not be enterprise as defined by the eclectic, almost inert Enterprise Search Summit and Dialog / LexisNexis power base. My examples of Google’s enterprise successes define search to this goose. Those defeating Google are working in different areas of information access. The companies I think one should watch can surf on Google, not wait for the wave to drown them.
Stephen Arnold, December 20, 2008
Well Steve, if you believe that Google will or has won the Enterprise Search market, then we agree to disagree. WRT your comment about how you define Enterprise Search, I agree with much of your thinking but draw the line when we compare Google, Yahoo, and Live and extrapolate that to the Enterprise. Internet Search has nothing to do with the battle taking place within the Enterprise. Certainly Google has derived benefit from brand, but Microsoft has done well to counter this advantage.
I respect the fact that you attempt to backup your claims with facts, like the 25,000 appliances sold. I know well how difficult it is to get accurate information about this space. That 25,000 seems large. However when you contrast that with the number of SharePoint licenses it seems less impressive. SharePoint is Microsoft fastest selling product and as you know, it includes a search engine. I’m not suggesting that all of these comapnies are using SharePoint Search, but they will certainly look at what they have first, before looking at alternative like Google.
In my view, I think that 2008 was the year of Microsoft . Four years ago, Microsoft was a joke in this space. They have in a very short period of time become a force to be reckoned with. In addition to SharePoint, they released Search Server this year, a free search engine designed for smaller organizations. With the acquistion of FAST, they have the ability to attack huge organizations with complex search requirements that would never consider going with Google.
I don’t know who is going to win this battle, but I personally feel it is far from over. Google is not dominating this space.
Finally, with regard to the Vaticant dropping Mondosoft isn’t a shocker. Mondosoft filed for bankruptcy. For every large company you name that’s using Google, I can name five that are using SharePoint.
Please don’t take my comments as criticism. I enjoy your views very much. At least you have an opinion, which is more than I can say about most analysts.
Cheers. Happy holidays to you.
Martin
Martin Muldoon,
You need to do more than offer information about the status of the markets as you see them today. Google has won because none of the incumbents has a strategy in place that is sucking oxygen from the ecosystem and operating with the time delay Google’s educational push is implementing. In chess, few grand masters play until the king is dead. Grand masters recognize when the battle is lost. Why not step back, assess what’s happening at Endeca, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP in search? Armed with data about the struggles these firms face, you might be on somewhat firmer ground. The GOOG plays chess. Most search vendors are struggling to figure out the game in which they find themselves. I don’t agree to disagree. I analyze and report based on data. Operating in the post Google world as if struggling vendors are in control is characteristic of the azure chip consultants’ analyses. May I suggest you ponder my goldfish bowl analogy. But I am an old, addled goose and not equipped to handle the ripostes of those who deal with appearances. Honk.
Stephen Arnold, December 21, 2008