Anyone remembers Agloco? It was one of the more innovative idea a couple of years back. Sign up, put up a toolbar, surf the web, click ads, and everyone shares the profit. Interesting idea. I did not sign up, I did not subscribe to the idea.
If I recall correctly, the idea never took off, it (the toolbar) did not come out of “testing stage”. It never worked. Am I wrong on this? Please do correct me if I am.
Now the domain name seems be re-directed to no-where. A search for the term on Google turns up over 2 million links, many still touting Agloco. Different methods and ways of “promoting” the concept.
Another one bites the dust. When it is too good to be true, it is not. At least someone is sitting on a premium name now, at least for a few months the name will stay premium.
Recent talks of Microsoft trying to buy Yahoo! has made me wonder. While it makes commercial sense to Microsoft, and perhaps Yahoo! shareholders, it makes absolutely no sense to us, the users.
Its common knowledge that in terms of accuracy and speed of search engines, it is rank in the order of Google, Yahoo and Live (or whatever they call it). That is the result of the market share of each company in terms of searches. Will the “merger” of Microsoft and Yahoo searches produce more accurate searches for the “new” company or search engine? Very doubtful indeed.
Mr Icahn’s mind is made up. It is up to minority Yahoo! shareholders to make their voices felt. Microsoft should concentrate on getting their products and services more user-friendly. Update their search algorithm to make it more search friendly (how many times have you searched for something on their platform and decides that Google’s searches produces more accurate results - though it is getting less accurate these days, but that’s another story.), and produce more accurate results?
Why would Microsoft wants Yahoo! ? Due to Yahoo! Mail? Social sites? Advertising potential? I currently use Yahoo! Search Marketing for my ad links. If Microsoft successfully buy Yahoo, I can see the demise of Yahoo as a search engine, and Google totally dominating - not something I would like to see really.
In business sense, Microsoft has done the right move. On the other hand, they will just waste money. Google will just grow stronger and the “new” merged search “giant” will just grow smaller, in terms of advertisement revenue, in terms of search market share. Only one guy will be left laughing.