Amid rumors that just won't die, the eternal vigil or wait for the Google Box rages on. Google protests it is not building a Google Box. If you believe them, your next question should be -- why the hell not? Recent fury about a Google Box was again unleashed at the latest CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas this year when a rumor spread that Google would be unveiling a Google Box. Causing its stock price to rise and Google watchers' hearts to drop when there proved to be no substance to the rumor. For now Google seems content to 'piggy-back' on other systems. It has announced it will be partnering with Motorola to place the Google icon and search on certain Motorola cell phones. So close, yet so far. Google still insists it is not building a Google Box. But does it really matter what Google wants... Internet users want their Google Box and they will get it in one form or another. It might not even come from Google. Their lost! If you haven't been following the Google Juggernaut, you may be wondering what's all this buzz about a Google Box? Simply put: it's a rumor/hope/dream that just won't die. What are consumers, customers, Internet users (everyone on the planet) all clamoring for? They are clamoring for a newly minted integrated 'all-in-one' portable handheld device, with a Google OS (operating system) and an RSS powered Google Browser (via the Firefox model) that's an Internet/Phone/Laptop/XM Radio/Ipod Video/TV/GPS/ and last but not least a Search Engine. If such a device is built it would finally bring the Internet (screaming and kicking) into our future wireless universe. It would be our dream technotopia device. One that would meet all our electronic/communication needs and place them firmly in the palm of our hand. It would place all the World's Information, Videos, TV shows, Music, a Billion Web Sites, and Aunt Sally neatly in the palm of your hand. It would deliver all this with the Google Brand Name, quite frankly who else would you trust with your Aunt Sally? Not only should Google Build it, they should give it away for Free or next to Free, make it affordable to the lowest income demographic on the planet. It would simply be good business. It would simply be a better return on its shareholder's money. Technically such a device or Google Box could be built right now. The resources and expertise are available, just might take a hefty down payment to give birth to this baby. Is such a venture realistically feasible for Google to undertake? As we see from their offer of providing free broadband Wi-Fi services to the lucky residents of Mountain View, in the heart of Silicon Valley, it is not that far-fetched. It is not such a leap of faith that someone at Google may be musing at the possibility of a world-wide wireless system delivered on a Google Box. Advertising is Google's Bread and Butter. Consider the Google Box as just a virtual version of your morning newspaper. It would be the perfect vehicle to carry all that Google delivered advertising. Delivered to everyone anywhere in the world. Advertisers would be lining up around the world for a piece of that action. Actually, if you really examine the implications of such a delivery system. Google must build that Google Box or lose out to others who will build such a delivery device... it just won't have the Google name. How far are we from such a delivery system? How long will we have to wait for the eternal Google Box? Don't hold your breath but have you heard any good rumors lately? |
