chiyo - 1:21 pm on May 1, 2002 (gmt 0)

I dunno. I still have to be 100% convinced that they will be using google's main listings. All they say is that they AOL will be using Googles search technology - and Adwords for paid listings.

Going even further, even if they were to use the regular listings database, we dont know whether will be using the whole shebang or a "part" of it - similar to say the way Inktomi partners use their listings but may even more selective.

Still not sure whether they are using Adwords, Adword Select or both. According to Danny Sullivan in another thread only US users will be able to see the Adword listings, or people from other countries if Adword advertisers elect to have their ads displayed in targeted countries. So I cant check this out myself wwithout going through the anonymizer stuff.

We would be really happy to be in AOL as Google treats us well, but I have a suspicion about things that are too good to be true!...

Apart from that, whatever happens its a great strategic win for Google, and a bit of a blow to Overture, and maybe even LS and the smaller dedicated PPC's. If they do include the full index it sure means that AOL uses would have much less reason to leave the AOL portal to do search, keeping AOL users in their paddock a bit more.

By contrast, MSN's search offering would then look pretty poor by comparison.

Not that it will worry MSN.

An MSN spokesman (sorry spokeswoman) is on record when responding to accusations they are serving up highly commercially-driven SERPS that "...they are giving the customer what they want...".

Hmmm... [caution-self serving comment] if they need market research to prove that, our company will be happy to run some objective surveys.[/self serving comment]

(edited by: chiyo at 1:30 pm (utc) on May 1, 2002)