Google's Sinister(?) Plans

puppetman writes "This week, Robert X. Cringely makes some interesting observations as to what Google's up to next. He theorizes that Google is looking to create a bandwidth shortage that will drive ISP/cable/telephone customers into it's open arms (often with the blessing of the ISP/cable/telephone company). The evidence: leasing massive amounts of network capacity, and huge data centers in rural areas (close to power-generation facilities). The shortage will only occur if the average bandwidth consumption by individual consumers skyrockets; think mainstream BitTorrent, streaming moves from NetFlix, tv episodes from iTunes, video games on demand, etc, etc. Spooky and sinister, or sublime and smart?"

Comments

Mr. Cringely, I Question Your Motives

[aldheorte]

Mr. Cringely

Do I have you mistaken for someone else or have you not been going on for some time with a meme about Google building some sort of super computer that is the Internet? Moreover, is it not established fact that none of these predictions have come true and Google has remained what it has always been, a search engine with text ads driving revenue and some interesting, but non-revolutionary and non-revenue producing side applications?

I'm calling you out. I ask that you fully disclose in a follow up article any stake-holdings you have in Google, its partners, or investors and, if existent, when you acquired those interests.

To the particulars of your argument, Google has a massively distributed database and a very high volume of queries. There need not be any conspiratorial or unusual reason for them to acquire lots of bandwidth and build distributed data centers aside from supporting their main functionality in a cost-efficient manner.

I do not think rampant speculation on the basis of scant fact, and repeated rampant speculation without any indication that past speculation has been borne out by actual facts, represents responsible journalism.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Slashdot Member

Re:Plotting for the inevitable?

[timmarhy]

"Anybody who has ever planned a large network (meaning .0000000000001% of Slashdotters)"

actually all polls on peoples job descriptions who read /. point to the contrary. A much higher then average number of /. ers work in high level tech. In the typical insecure AC style, you've mislead yourself into thinking your better then most people. your just a big turd in a small bowl.