If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or email alerts. Thanks for visiting!
Google takes a step closer to establishing a monopoly over web services. They have acquired Feedburner, the ultimate in feed management for $100 million. Although Feedburner has less than half a million publishers that use its services to redirect feeds, Google has plenty to gain from their subscriber counts and Feedburner Advertisment Network that monetizes your feeds.
I agree with Amit (Digital Inspiration) that I feel a wee bit uncomfortable with Google’s increasing monopoly especially regarding monetizing options on the web. It is akin to putting all your web revenue options eggs in one basket. Google decides to piss on you and you literally vanish off the web. I understand they operate through a free market mechanism and we are free to go elsewhere if we feel queasy but honestly, there aren’t any viable other options. I guess I’ll just take my chances and hope for the best.
Feedburner is one of my favorite services that I use for this blog and DesiPundit. As I am a complete stat whore, I love the way it keeps a tab of my RSS subscribers through the Feedburner Replacement Plugin [modified version]. Heck, I even sport a Feedburner sticker on my laptop cover. So Google, please don’t mess with a good product and don’t be evil with my data.
Article Tags >> Business | Technology | World Wide Web


May 24th, 2007 at 9:49 am reply
In 5 years we will see Google outdo Microsoft. Google is Evil allright. And now they’ve started to to invade our desktops too..
S
May 24th, 2007 at 10:50 am reply
Suyog,
I guess if you can’t beat them, join them? Anyway, Google just might turn into tomorrow’s Microsoft.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:07 am reply
For many people, Google is still this out of the blue start-up that provides great search. I have been increasingly concerned with Google’s dominance on the web, but that put me in a clear minority. Recent reports indicate that this may be changing.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:31 pm reply
[...] Previously paid services like MyBrand and FeedBurner Stat Pro are now free. Why? Well, after being bought over by Google they can afford to. But of course, by availing of all the free services offered by FeedBurner, you [...]