Big ad $ helps Google
to even bigger profit
It has often seemed that internet
search giant Google could not possibly live up to Wall Street's
expectations. On the contrary, it seems content to outdo them. The company
reported yesterday that its profit had multiplied by seven in fourth
quarter 2004. Executives said large companies paying higher prices for
advertising has a great deal to do with the success. They claimed that
because the results of Google ads can be measured more accurately than
other marketing tools, mainstream companies have become more eager to
sponsor Google searches. Google continues to promote itself abroad by
opening new sales offices around the world and adding development jobs in
Europe, Asia and Washington state. Google earnings hit $204.1 million for
the quarter, up over $27.3 million the previous year. Yearly earnings were
$399.1 million, up from $105.6 million in 2003. Quarterly revenue rose to
$1.03 billion, from $512.2 million. Revenue rose to $3.19 billion from
$1.47 billion for all of 2003.
Microsoft enters new arena with MSN Search
The search engine market has
become increasingly crowded, and so it's no surprise that one of the
computer industry's biggest players wants in. Enter Microsoft, which
debuted the new search engine MSN Search yesterday. The engine that is
part of the redesigned MSN homepage is available in 25 markets and 10
languages. And, of course, Microsoft promises its engine will provide more
relevant results and give users more control in targeting searches. The
company will soon launch a global marketing campaign to promote MSN
Search.
Rowling warns Potter fans of dishonest muggles
JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, is
warning fans that con artists are trying to pull some magic of their own
by tricking readers out of their credit cards. One of the latest phishing
scams for internet fraudsters is to claim to be hawking electronic copies
of the latest Potter installment, which is not to be released until July
16. Rowling‘s lawyers shut down one site that claimed to sell electronic
copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," but others
could appear. The site, registered in Seattle under the name “Billie
Burns”, offered the book in electronic form for $9.95. The
multimillionaire author has never granted licenses for electronic versions
of any of her books. Police suspect organized crime gangs from Eastern
Europe are responsible for the scam.
Mmm,
fake beer: Simpsons auction is a fraud
What "Simpsons" fan wouldn't want a cold,
crisp can of Duff beer? Those who realize the
drink is imaginary. Fans of the Fox show recently tried to buy a carton of
Homer Simpson’s drink of choice, Duff beer, on eBay. The problem is the
beer doesn’t exist. Tara Edith Woodford, a 28-year-old Queensland,
Australia, mother of four has pleaded guilty to selling the nonexistent
brew on eBay three times to raise money to buy Christmas presents for her
children. Woodford was paid a total of $1,951 by three separate buyers on
eBay’s Australian site between Nov. 29 and Dec. 15 of last year. After
they didn’t receive the beer, buyers contacted the police, who tracked
down Woodford. She inexplicably used her real name, home address and email
address on the eBay site. Woodford was placed on probation for 18 months.
Australian breweries put out a version of Duff beer in the 1990s, but
“Simpsons” creators and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. took legal
action. That Duff beer is now a collector's item and cartons can sell for
as much as $1,000 on eBay.
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