Why Google might want even more servers:
Google Has Plan to Act
As Hard Drive for Users' Files
By KEVIN J. DELANEY [WSJ]
March 7, 2006; Page B3
Google Inc. aims to be able to store on its own computers files that consumers normally keep on their hard drives, according to a document the Internet company inadvertently released on the Web.
It is an ambition the Mountain View, Calif., company believes could undercut rival Microsoft Corp. in their ongoing battle. But there are potential privacy and security implications if Google were to hold user data that hackers or the government might seek to access.
Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt cryptically told analysts Thursday that Google wants "to be able to store everybody's information all the time." Executive-speaking notes from the analyst-day event, which the company accidentally made available briefly on the Web, reveal intriguing details about its ambitions. Google is moving toward being able to "store 100% of user data," the notes indicate, citing, "emails, Web history, pictures, bookmarks" as a few examples. Any timeline is unclear. The internal notes say Google's "store 100%" scenario would be made possible if Google had "infinite storage."
The notes say Google has "efforts in this direction." They refer to what appear to be unannounced Google initiatives including one dubbed "GDrive." The notes don't provide detail, but the GDrive name suggests Google might allow users to store their files on Google computers that they can access over the Web from devices such as personal computers and cellphones. Mr. Schmidt noted during his remarks that Google's storage of any personal data would be "subject to your permission for us to keep it."
A Google spokeswoman said the notes weren't intended for publication. "We are constantly working on new ways to enhance our products and services for our users, but we have nothing to announce at this time," she said.
The notes, cited by a number of Web logs, help clarify some of the possible future outlines of Google's competition with Microsoft. According to the notes, Google believes storing users' data centrally will make the computing device -- such as a PC or phone -- less important. That could undercut the advantage that Microsoft has thanks to its dominant Windows operating system, browser software and Office productivity applications. It "suits our strength vis-à-vis Microsoft," the Google notes say.
Microsoft is making its own push into services that store user information on the Web, similar to those outlined in the Google notes. But Microsoft executives believe such services will involve a combination of PC software and online services. "It's extremely unlikely that a solution that pivots too far to one side will be successful," the company said in a statement. |
