Executive Portfolio

-Travel: Google purchased ITA Software in early July for $700m. This airline management system organizes flight information allow customers and agencies to easily compare costs and itineraries. Google hopes the expand in this market and ultimately create a destination search option that will encourage online ticket sales. Although nothing has been confirmed, it is rumored that Google may expand to include a hotel option and create a travel comparison website such as Expedia or Travelocity. For the moment, the market will not change and competitors are not threatened by the recent sale.

- Social Media: Is Facebook going to gain a competitor? Recent findings have reported that Google is developing a social media platform to rival that of Facebook. Unfortunately, Google’s recent attempts have failed (Google Buzz, Okrut(Brazilian success) Open Social, Google Friend Connect). “Google Me” is hoped to become the new Facebook. When Myspace phased out there was Facebook, when Facebook phases out, will you “Google Me”?

- Within the family: Google Analytics has had a baby with Google owned Blogger. This new tracking system known as Blogger Stats enables Blogger users to view visitor traffic in near-real time updates. Users now have the usefulness of Google Analytics directly on their Blogger accounts.

-App Inventor: In response to Apples increasing restrictions on App development and creations, Google released a user friendly platform for developers of all skills (noob-techy) to create their own apps. Apps released to Android based phones via the Inventor are not expected be as technically savvy as those created by professionals, however, the Inventor opens the creation market.

Google has become a crucial player online. Their innovative products are always cutting edge. With the addition of these new announcement and the many more that are still underwraps there is no doubt that Google will continue to revolutionize the online world as we know it.