HughMungus - 2:57 pm on Nov 15, 2003 (gmt 0)

Sounds to me like Google is looking for other sources of "relevant" links. It's the same reason (many think) that Google bought Blogger. The thinking is that people with an individual presence on the web in the form of a blog or on chat are posting/sending links that are way more relevant than a link just sitting on a page somewhere, especially if it's a link that was explicity requested.

e.g.,

Chatter 1: "Do you know of a website that sells concert tickets?"

Chatter 2: "Yes, go to http://widgets.com/."

widgets.com becomes more relevant to "concert tickets" because it's being referred to directly from one person to another.

It's certainly interesting. Too bad spam ruins stuff like this for everyone.