It’s high time that I post something on my blog. Interesting and startling things pop up almost every day and it’s difficult to keep abreast with everything. In order not to get behind too much, I better post today. 😉

Today I have read a couple of news items, e.g. via the BBC, on Google’s plans to venture into the mobile world. Although the company neither denies nor confirms the development of a phone like Apple, it’s still about to touch new ground. Why is it that big companies spread their wings into areas that have not been their domain? It’s like they want to become omnipresent. Specialization is out, generalism and “sell it all” is hot.

Google is a great example of that. They Stanford guys Sergey Brin and Larry Page who founded Google started with a search engine whose homepage was extremely uncluttered. Now the company owns a large number of non-search engine services such as email, blog, video storage, photo storage, CAD software etc. Philipp Lenssen has drawn a Map of Googleland which gives an interesting visualization of Google (excluding the very recent acquisitions of the company). Lenssen’s blog is a superb place to look for all Google-related stories. The uncluttered homepage of Google can be customized to one’s gusto. Mine looks like this at the moment (August 3, 2007, at 10:14 p.m.). The top is customized with one of the available themes. Although I am not a fan of pink, I cannot get around that color because my Google page knows my time and assumes that it’s time for a sunset. However, it’s already pitch dark outside.

iGoogle

And the latest coup seems to be the venture into the mobile phone market. Of course, one can already browse web sites via a phone or handheld, but that does not seem to be enough. Apparently, Google has shown its Gphone to manufacturers already (via Washington Post, Mobile Entertainment), but still does not comment on the story.

Google’s phone whether produced by an outside company or in-house might be a serious rival for Apple’s iPhone and a lot cheaper because reports state that Google plans to fianance it via customized ads. Will the company then listen in to one’s conversation to place the appropriate ads?

Internet service and computer companies joining the phone market might seem to be a step backwards, but actually, it’s a step into the future extending the availability of the internet and one’s personal files. Soon we might carry our entire hard drive around in a mobile device – mind you: not for working on these tiny screens constantly but to have them available and to be able to access them anytime the need might arise.

It’s good that I have not yet bought a mobile phone. I’m waiting for the big coup 😉 In the meantime, you can reach me via the following channels:

  1. email
  2. instant messenger: Skype, AIM, Yaoo, ICQ (although rarely used these days), Jabber (used it only once so far)
  3. landline and answering machine at home (mind the time zone)
  4. phone and voice mail at work (please only in emergencies)
  5. snailmail (if you jotted down my current address)
  6. relatives and friends (if they know more than you do)
  7. comments in this blog (still greatly underused)

I can’t think of a number 8. Thus, the list finishes with lucky seven channels. That should suffice for the time being.

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