Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Google Book Search Offers Free Downloads of Public Domain Books

Announcement
August 30, 2006

Discovering Dante, Newton and Hugo just became a little easier. Starting today, readers can find new, and free, downloadable versions of some of the world’s greatest books on Google Book Search (books.google.com).

Working with our library partners, we’re expanding access to books that are out of copyright and have become public domain material. Users can search and read these books on Google Book Search like always, but now they can also download and print them to enjoy at their own pace.

"Public domain books include both well-known classics and less well-known books on every conceivable subject," according to Sidney Verba, Director of the Harvard University Library which is a partner in the Google Books Library Project. "Since people can search the full text of these books, they can find previously buried information about historical events or people, places of interest and matters cultural or scientific. What has been tucked away in large research library collections and available only to a few, can now be discovered and read by people everywhere."

To easily find books to download, readers can select the "Full view" button when searching on Google Book Search, and then click on the "Download" button shown on public domain books. They can then download a PDF file to their computers to read when they are offline, save for later, or print a paper version. (We do not enable downloading of any books under copyright. Unless we have the publisher’s permission to show more, we display only basic bibliographic information, and, in many cases, small snippets of text – at most, a few lines of text surrounding a search term.)

Our commitment to our users and to our library partners – Harvard, New York Public Library, Oxford, Stanford, Unversity of Michigan and most recently University of California – is to promote the discovery of the world’s books, whether rare, common, popular or obscure. Give it a try:

And keep reading.

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Google to Present at the Citigroup Technology Conference

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – August 30, 2006 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced today that Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Research, and Sheryl Sandberg, Vice President, Global Online Sales and Operations, will participate in a question-and-answer session at the Citigroup 13th Annual Technology Conference in New York City. The session is scheduled for 3:35 p.m. Eastern Time (12:35 p.m. Pacific Time) on Thursday, September 7, 2006.

To access the live audio webcast of the session, please visit investor.google.com/webcast. The webcast version of the session will be available through the same link for approximately two weeks following the session, after which time Google will include the webcast in the "archive" section of the Google Investor Relations website.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Contact:

Maria Shim
Investor Relations
Google Inc.
650-253-7663
marias@google.com

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Monday, August 28, 2006

Hurricane Consciousness Marks Late Summer Weekly Google Zeitgeist

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Google and eBay Sign Multi-Year Agreement to Connect Users, Merchants, and Advertisers Around the Globe

MOUNTAIN VIEW and SAN JOSE, Calif., August 28, 2006 – Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) and eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) today announced a multi-year agreement to benefit both companies’ collective communities of users, merchants and advertisers around the globe. The agreement consists of two primary components involving text-based advertising and "click-to-call" advertising functionality.

Specifically, Google will become the exclusive text-based advertising provider for eBay outside the United States. In addition, eBay and Google plan to integrate and launch "click-to-call" advertising functionality that leverage both Skype and Google Talk globally in each company’s respective shopping and search platforms. The companies said the financial terms for certain components of the deal involve revenue sharing, but did not disclose specific details.

"We’re pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with Google to explore new market opportunities, like click-to-call advertising, that benefit both our communities of users," said Meg Whitman, President and CEO, eBay Inc. "People continue to evolve how they shop, communicate and advertise online. By combining the power of eBay in ecommerce and Skype in communications with Google’s leadership in search and advertising, we can increase the usefulness of the Internet for shoppers, merchants and advertisers around the world."

"This agreement underscores how much we value eBay as a partner," said Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. "Our technologies will allow us to connect users to relevant advertising across eBay’s international properties. By working together to promote click-to-call functionality through Google Talk and Skype, we are offering advertisers another innovative way to connect with customers."

The companies plan to begin testing the text-based advertising and click-to-call initiatives in early 2007 that will be evaluated over a period of several months. The specific components and timing of implementation will depend upon initial test results, and will vary by market, largely driven by local dynamics and joint capabilities.

Details of the agreement include:

Search and Advertising on eBay Sites Outside the U.S.

Google will become the exclusive provider of text-based advertising on eBay outside the United States. This agreement provides Google advertisers access to one of the Internet’s most robust online communities while enhancing the shopping experience for eBay buyers by making it easier for them to find the products they seek.

"Click-to-Call" Advertising and Technology Integration

Google and eBay also plan to integrate and launch "click-to-call" advertising functionality within eBay’s U.S. and international marketplaces and Google’s search platform. The click-to-call capability will allow a user to click on a link or icon within a product or service advertisement to initiate an Internet voice call to participating eBay merchants or Google advertisers directly from either company’s respective sites, using Skype or Google Talk.

Click-to-call advertising is an emerging e-commerce model that brings buyers and sellers together by opening up new ways for advertisers and merchants to generate customer leads using the Internet. It is particularly valuable for merchants or advertisers who may not have a website, or who currently use channels such as local directories to reach potential customers.

Starting in the near future, Skype will offer its users the option to download the Google Toolbar, to which Skype will add a custom button. The companies will also explore interoperability between Skype and Google Talk via open standards to enable text chat and online presence.

At this time, eBay does not expect this agreement will have a material impact on its financial results in 2006 or 2007.

About eBay Inc.

Founded in 1995, eBay pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. eBay enables ecommerce on a local, national and international basis with an array of Websites – including the eBay Marketplaces, PayPal, Skype, Kijiji, Rent.com and Shopping.com – that bring together millions of buyers and sellers every day.

About Google:

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding Google and eBay (including without limitation as described in the quotations from management in this announcement) and their strategic and operational plans related to, and the expected financial impact of, the announced strategic agreement. Those statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the reaction of users of each company’s services to the strategic agreement and associated product changes, the reaction of each company’s competitors to the strategic agreement, the decision by either party to reduce the scope of this agreement upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the agreement, potential product development issues, and the possibility that the expected benefits of the strategic agreement may not materialize to the extent expected or at all. All information set forth in this release is as of August 28, 2006, and neither company intends or undertakes any duty to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. More information about potential factors that could impact each company’s business and financial results is included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in each company’s respective Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

###

For more information please contact:

eBay Inc.:
U.S. Media Relations Contact: Hani Durzy, (408) 376-7458
Europe Media Relations Contact: Victoria Biggs, (44) 2086053056
Investor Relations Contact: Tracey Ford, (408) 376-7205

Google Inc.:
Corporate Communications Contact: Brandon McCormick, (650) 253-0674
Investor Relations Contact: Maria Shim, (650) 253-7663

Read more »

Google Launches Hosted Communications Services

New Google Apps for Your Domain Available Now for Easy Email, Calendaring, and More

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., August 28, 2006 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced the launch of Google Apps for Your Domain (www.google.com/a), a set of hosted applications for organizations that want to provide high quality communications tools to their users without the hassle of installing and maintaining software or hardware.

In addition to customizing the user interface with their own branding and color scheme, organizations can tailor the service to their needs by mixing and matching the email, messaging, calendaring and other tools offered through Google Apps for Your Domain. Over time, Google will offer versions of Google Apps for Your Domain that are oriented toward the needs of a variety of organizations, from family websites and community groups to non-profits and small businesses, as well as universities, large enterprises, and ISPs.

Google Apps for Your Domain, an expansion of the Gmail for Your Domain service that launched in February 2006, currently includes Gmail web email, the Google Talk instant messaging and voice calling service, collaborative calendaring through Google Calendar, and web page design, publishing and hosting via Google Page Creator. Domain administrators use a simple web-based control panel to manage their user account list, set up aliases and distribution lists, and enable the services they want for their domain. End users with accounts that have been set up by their administrator simply browse to customized login pages on any web-connected computer. The service scales easily to accommodate growing user bases and storage needs while drastically reducing maintenance costs.

Google will provide organizations with two choices of service.

  • A standard edition of Google Apps for Your Domain is available today as a beta product without cost to domain administrators or end users. Key features include 2 gigabytes of email storage for each user, easy to use customization tools, and help for administrators via email or an online help center. Furthermore, organizations that sign up during the beta period will not ever have to pay for users accepted during that period (provided Google continues to offer the service).

  • A premium version of the product is being developed for organizations with more advanced needs. More information, including details on pricing, will be available soon.

"Organizations of all sizes face a common challenge of helping their users communicate and share information more effectively," said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager, enterprise, at Google. "A hosted service like Google Apps for Your Domain eliminates many of the expenses and hassles of maintaining a communications infrastructure, which is welcome relief for many small business owners and IT staffers. Organizations can let Google be the experts in delivering high quality email, messaging, and other web-based services while they focus on the needs of their users and their day-to-day business."

As a hosted service, Google Apps for Your Domain is available worldwide, though the control panel for domain administrators is currently available only in US-English. Google is currently working to make the service available to administrators in additional languages. (Individual products offered through the Google Apps for Your Domain service, such as Gmail and Google Talk, are already available in a variety of languages for end users.) Domain administrators and IT managers can visit www.google.com/a to learn more and to register for the product.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Media Contact:

Courtney Hohne
Google Inc.
courtneyh@google.com
650-253-3260

###

Google is a registered trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

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Thursday, August 17, 2006

Google Makes Trek to Las Vegas; Lands at Creation Entertainment’s 40th Anniversary Star Trek Convention

Announcement
August 17, 2006

Wherever and whenever science fiction fans gather, an appreciation of technology – and alien visitations – can’t be far behind. This year, there will be an unlikely visitor attending one of the biggest gatherings of science fiction fans, the 40th Anniversary Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, hosted by Creation Entertainment. Google will join the more than 15,000 enthusiasts who make the annual trek to this memorable federation of fans.

In conjunction with this week’s convention, Google launched a special site (www.google.com/trekfan) that provides developers with information on a number of Google tools, including Earth, Maps and SketchUp. From far and wide, Google users – many of whom are science fiction fans – have created thousands of imagery overlays for Google Earth, many illustrating their appreciation for all things other-worldly. While in Las Vegas to help celebrate Star Trek’s 40th anniversary, the Google booth will showcase these science fiction scenes and structures, created by users, highlighting intergalactic life.

And because there is no better place than the vortex of pop culture, sci-fi and technology to introduce a cool tool that offers a better way to display visual information on handheld devices, Google today announced the availability of mobile KML (Keyhole Markup Language), which enables developers to illustrate information to overlay on Google Maps for mobile phones.

Already available on the desktop through Google Maps and Google Earth, now developers can more easily share palm-sized versions of their favorite Earth-bound destinations. Beginning today, mobile phone users will be able to view the same KML files they access on Earth and Maps on the PC – directly on their phone. Throughout deep space, fans will be able to view alien outposts on Earth directly from their handheld devices. For those who prefer to stay on planet Earth, or end up in Las Vegas, mobile KML offers mobile phone users a bird’s-eye view of the 24-hour playground.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Popular Culture, Politics Jostle For Space On The Weekly Google Zeitgeist

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Instant Access Now Available for Google Analytics

Announcement
August 15, 2006

Google is pleased to report that we have removed the wait to receive Google Analytics accounts. Now anyone with a website can instantly create a free Google Analytics account simply by visiting www.google.com/analytics or by clicking on the "Analytics" tab within AdWords. After creating an account, we suggest reading the installation guide to get the account set up quickly and correctly.

Google Analytics provides actionable information to advertisers, publishers, and website owners to help them understand visitor behavior and create a better user experience. Our hope is that over time, this will improve the user experience on the internet as a whole.

When Google Analytics was launched in November 2005, it was the first time an enterprise-class web analytics product had been offered for free. We also made it available in 16 languages to anyone with a website, not just AdWords customers. The demand far exceeded our projections so that we had to implement an invitation model for new sign ups, which included wait time. Over time, we gradually reduced the wait time, even as demand for Google Analytics accounts increased. Today we are happy to announce that any website owner who wants an Analytics account can get one, without any wait whatsoever.

Google Analytics is deeply integrated with the AdWords advertising service and can be accessed by clicking the Analytics tab in any AdWords account. Technical support is available in 16 languages. Additional educational and support materials include our Conversion University, our Help Center, and our global professional services network of Google Analytics Authorized Consultants.

For more information, please visit the Google Analytics Blog or go directly to the Google Analytics homepage.

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Print and Save – Coupons on Google Maps

Announcement
August 15, 2006

Today, Google announced printable online coupons on Google Maps. When searching for local information, discount coupons from businesses are now displayed on Google Maps search results and business listing pages. These coupons can be printed out directly from a computer and redeemed at a physical store location of a neighborhood or local business. For users of Google Maps, coupons provide additional relevant business information and ultimately contribute to a better local search experience. For businesses, coupons provide another way to reach customers online.

Google has partnered with Valpak, one of the leading direct marketing companies in North America, to provide coupons from current Valpak advertisers on Google Maps. These coupons include savings from local businesses throughout the United States including dry cleaners, dentists, vets, pizza places, car washes, oil changes, handymen and home remodelers. New coupons from Valpak advertisers are added on a nightly basis to ensure the most recent offers are available immediately to consumers.

Coupons are available in Google Maps at no cost to businesses and consumers. Businesses simply need to log into the Local Business Center at Google Maps to enter in coupon information www.google.com/local/add. In addition, businesses can easily add or update their local business listings on Google Maps from the Local Business Center. Once coupon information is entered, the coupon is displayed on Google Maps within hours. Businesses do not need a web site to participate.

"We’re very pleased to be the launch partner with Google to offer Valpak’s print-at-home online coupons to more consumers and to give Valpak merchants valuable enhanced distribution tied to their existing listing on Google Maps." said Todd Leiser, Vice President and General Manager for Valpak.com, Valpak’s online coupon portal. "Valpak’s blue envelope has been a North American institution for nearly 40 years and has the type of real consumer value that is perfect to support Google’s mission statement of organizing the world’s information".

In addition, Google AdWords advertisers can use coupons through the Local Business Center. In the coming months, AdWords advertisers will be able to drive traffic to their coupons on Google Maps. By driving additional traffic to their coupons the advertiser can reach more customers.

To find a coupon for a business in your neighborhood please visit www.maps.google.com. For businesses who want to try coupons on Google Maps please visit www.google.com/local/add.

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Monday, August 14, 2006

Google Code Jam 2006 Programmers Worldwide Invited to Participate in Google’s Fourth Annual Global Coding Competition

Registration opens August 14th; finals to be held in Google’s New York City Engineering Office on October 27th, 2006

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and NEW YORK, NY, – August 14, 2006 – Google Inc., (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that registration is now open for Google Code Jam 2006. Google’s annual online coding competition presents participants with a series of challenges that they must use their programming skills and creativity to solve. Programmers ready to match their skills against the world’s best can register at www.google.com/codejam2006. The top 100 contestants win an all expenses paid trip to New York City to compete in the finals at Google’s New York Engineering Office.

"The Google Code Jam is an incredible opportunity for the most talented and fastest computer scientists in the world to come together and compete on an international stage," said Alan Eustace, senior vice president, Engineering. "Google is proud to support these amazing coders as they take on some of the world’s most challenging programming problems, and we’re pleased to have the chance to introduce them to our research and development offices around the world."

This year marks the first year the finals will be held in New York City. "Google New York is very excited to be hosting Google Code Jam 2006," said Craig Nevill-Manning, director, Engineering New York, Google Inc. "It’s an incredible opportunity to introduce the best of the programming world to our New York Engineering office in downtown Manhattan and demonstrate the incredible diversity of experiences that Google offers engineers all over the world. If you can make it in Code Jam here, you can make it anywhere!"

In addition to the trip to Google’s New York Engineering Office, finalists will also divide $155,000 in prize money:
Grand Prize: $10,000
2nd – 10th place: $5,000 each
11th – 25th place: $2,500 each
26th – 50th place: $1,000 each
51st – 100th place: $750 each

Registration for Google Code Jam closes September 5, and the qualifying round begins on the same day.

Last year, more than 14,500 competitors from 32 countries took part in the Google Code Jam, and Marek Cygan of Poland took home the grand prize. The Google Code Jam is powered by TopCoder®, the leader in online programming competition, skills assessment, and competitive software development. More information about Google Code Jam 2006 can be found at www.google.com/codejam2006.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Media Contact:

Sunny Gettinger
Google Inc.
(650) 253-4713
sunnyg@google.com

###

Google is a registered trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be
trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

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Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Summer Searches Vary Extremely In The Weekly Google Zeitgeist

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Google Book Search and UC Library Partnership

Announcement
August 9, 2006

Today, Google Book Search is thrilled to welcome one of the world’s largest libraries – the University of California library – to the Google Books Library Project. The University of California houses more than 100 libraries on its 10 campuses and is considered to have the largest research and academic library in the world. Working together, Google and the University of California libraries will make books from this rich collection searchable on Google Book Search.

For readers, researchers, and book lovers all over the world, this means even more access to the great works of history and culture. So a student, a teacher, a doctor or anyone in a remote corner of the world will be able find information held on library shelves thousands of miles away in California – simply by searching online.

For books in the public domain, readers will be able to view, browse, and read the full texts, including many of the treasures in the UC libraries’ historic and special collections. For books protected by copyright, users will just get basic background (such as the book’s title and the author’s name), at most a few lines of text related to their search, and information about where they can buy or borrow a book.

John Oakley, Chair of UC’s systemwide Academic Senate and professor of law at UC Davis, says it best: "The academic enterprise is fundamentally about discovery. We contribute to it immeasurably by unlocking the wealth of information maintained within our libraries and exposing it to the latest that search technologies have to offer."

The University of California becomes the latest partner in the Google Books Library Project, which also includes the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Stanford University, Oxford University and the New York Public Library. Google is also conducting a pilot project with the Library of Congress.

The Google Books Library Project digitizes books from major libraries around the world and makes their collections searchable on Google Book Search. More information can be found at: books.google.com.

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Monday, August 7, 2006

Fox Interactive Media Enters Into Landmark Agreement with Google Inc.

Multi-Year Pact Calls for Google to Provide Search and Advertising Across Fox Interactive Media’s Growing Online Network Including the MySpace Community

MOUNTAIN VIEW and LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 7, 2006 – News Corporation’s Fox Interactive Media and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced a multi-year search technology and services agreement whereby Google will be the exclusive search and keyword targeted advertising sales provider for Fox Interactive Media’s growing network of web properties including MySpace.com (www.myspace.com).

The agreement calls for Google to power web, vertical and site specific search for MySpace.com and the majority of Fox Interactive Media properties. Google will be the exclusive provider of text-based advertising and keyword targeted ads through its AdSense program, for inventory on Fox Interactive Media’s network. Google will also have a right of first refusal on display advertising sold through third parties on Fox Interactive Media’s network.

The integration of Google’s services including consistent search navigation across Fox Interactive Media’s network of properties is slated to begin in the fourth quarter 2006 and will provide users with access to Google’s industry leading search capabilities as well as text and display advertising from its global advertiser base.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google will be obligated to make guaranteed minimum revenue share payments to Fox Interactive Media of $900 million based on Fox achieving certain traffic and other commitments. These guaranteed minimum revenue share payments are expected to be made over the period beginning in the first quarter of 2007 and ending in the second quarter of 2010.

"Our partnership with Google underscores News Corp’s continued evolution to become a powerful force in the digital media marketplace. To have come this far and gained this much momentum in just over a year is truly remarkable," said Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation. "This is an exciting time in our history as a forward thinking media company and this is just the first of many steps we plan to take with Google. We look forward to expanding our relationship into many new areas over years to come."

"We believe that our innovative technologies will be of real benefit to Fox Interactive Media’s growing number of users," said Eric Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Google. "MySpace.com is a widely acknowledged leader in user-generated content and incorporating search and advertising furthers our mission of making the world’s information universally accessible and useful."

"This deal is the next step in our evolution as a significant interactive player," said Ross Levinsohn, President of Fox Interactive Media. "Forming a strategic partnership with one of the most innovative companies in the world to expand our business together, monetize our platforms effectively and leverage our combined scale will provide substantial growth for our businesses."

"This agreement demonstrates our commitment to bring the same innovation to monetizing user-generated content that we brought to search advertising," said Omid Kordestani, Senior Vice President, Global Sales & Business Development of Google. "We look forward to other opportunities to partner with News Corp. to the benefit of its community."

In addition to MySpace.com (www.myspace.com), Fox Interactive Media properties that will benefit from the Google integration include top ranked online videogame and entertainment site IGN (www.ign.com), dynamic collegiate and pro sports network Scout.com (www.scout.com), leading site for movie lovers Rottentomatoes.com (www.rottentomatoes.com), popular men’s lifestyle site AskMen.com (www.askmen.com); as well as Gamespy.com (www.gamespy.com), Gamespyarcade.com (www.gamespyarcade.com), Fileplanet.com (www.fileplanet.com), Direct2drive.com (www.direct2drive.com), Teamxbox.com (www.teamxbox.com), 3dgamers.com (www.3dgamers.com), Gamestat.com (www.gamestat.com), Cheatscodesguides.com (www.cheatcodesguides.com) and Gamermetrics.com (www.gamermetrics.com).

About Google:

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

About Fox Interactive Media:

A division of News Corp. (NWS and NWS.A), Fox Interactive Media (FIM) is an integrated network of sites offering socially rich media experiences centered on entertainment, news, information and self-expression. The company’s network includes Internet assets from News Corp., including the highly trafficked Foxsports.com (www.foxspports.com), Americanidol.com (www.americanidol.com) and Fox.com (www.fox.com). FIM also owns and operates such category leaders as MySpace.com (www.myspace.com), the number one social networking site on the Web; Scout.com (www.scout.com), a dynamic collegiate and pro sports network; and IGN Entertainment (www.ign.com), a network of leading gaming and entertainment sites including men’s lifestyle site AskMen (www.askmen.com) and premier destination for movie-goers Rotten Tomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com) among others.

***NOTE: A conference call for financial analysts and members of the press only will occur at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today.***

The Teleconference Dial-In Numbers are:

United States: (800) 230-1059

International: (612) 332-0107

Passcode: NEWS

For a webcast of the call, please visit Google’s Investor Relations web site at: investor.google.com/webcast.html.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to the growth of our business. Actual results may differ materially from our expected results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations include competition, our ability to continue to attract users to our web sites, our ability to attract web sites to our AdSense program, general economic conditions and those economic conditions specific to the Internet and Internet advertising, our ability to innovate and improve monetization, and the growth of the market for internet advertising. More information about potential risk factors is included in our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, and from time to time in other reports that we file with the SEC.

Contacts:

Media:

Fox Interactive Media
Ann Burkart
310-969-7220
Julie Henderson
310-969-7141

Google
Jon Murchinson
650-253-4437

Investors:

News Corp.
Reed Nolte
212-852-7092

Google
Maria Shim
650-253-7663

Read more »

Google and Viacom’s MTV Networks to Test New Online Video Distribution Model

MTVN Hit Programs Also Available Now for Download-To-Own on Google Video

NEW YORK, NY, and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Aug. 7, 2006 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), are collaborating to test an innovative video distribution model that will serve consumers, web publishers and advertisers. Google will distribute ad-supported content from MTV Networks to targeted website publishers, allowing publishers to showcase clips from premium programming like Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and MTV’s Laguna Beach to enhance the content on their websites. As the first-of-its-kind offering from both companies, this new model will provide users with new ways to experience content and create targeted marketing vehicles for advertisers. It will also serve to promote programming that is available via cable, satellite and other distribution platforms carrying MTVN’s on-air channels. The companies expect to be testing the model later this month.

This venture marks the first time integrated video programming and advertising will be made available directly to Google’s extensive AdSense network, which delivers targeted text and image ads to its network of websites and blogs. This also represents the first time clips from MTV Networks’ kids and family, music and entertainment programming will be available to consumers widely across the Web on an ad-supported basis on sites outside MTVN’s proprietary sites.

"Collaborating with Google gives us a terrific opportunity to take our content and distribute it even more widely on the web in a seamless and targeted way," said Tom Freston, President and CEO, Viacom. "This deal fits in perfectly with our strategy to deliver the best content to our audiences – wherever they are. We’re very happy to be working with Google, a true innovator in content distribution."

"We’re excited to work with MTV Networks on new ways of distributing its content to consumers via the Internet and on Google Video," said Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO. "With the combination of our video technology, and extensive advertiser and publisher network, Google is in a leading position to help content owners, web publishers and advertisers generate interest and increase revenue opportunities."

MTVN programming that initially will be distributed via Google Video and targeted publishers includes clips from:

  • MTV’s "Laguna Beach: The Real OC" – video clips detailing major plotlines from the hit show’s third season, which premieres on television August 14.
  • MTV Video Music Awards – promotional clips from this year’s VMAs, airing Aug. 31, memorable highlights from past VMAs, and exclusive clips from the upcoming "Scandalicious Show" previewing this year’s VMAs.
  • Nickelodeon’s "SpongeBob SquarePants" – Your Brain on SpongeBob, taken from the hugely popular animated series.

"We are content people who make great creative product for all platforms," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, MTV Networks. "Our brands are great navigation tools for our audiences, and this deal with Google will enable us to follow and lead them to new places."

"We welcome the opportunity to work with great content providers like MTV Networks to explore additional forms of distribution for online video," said David Eun, Google’s vice president of content partnerships. "MTV Networks offers a perfect blend of content that is interesting, exciting and relevant to web publishers, advertisers and users alike. We look forward to the results of this relationship, and the impact it will have on these audiences."

MTVN Hit Programs Also Available Now for Download-To-Own on Google Video
:

This new distribution model is just one of two significant relationships announced today between Google and MTV Networks. The companies also announced that MTV Networks’ hit programs will now be available for download through Google Video, for $1.99 per episode. With more content from across MTVN’s entire hit portfolio to be added, the initial offering includes full-length episodes from:

Comedy Central
:
"Chappelle’s Show":Comedian Dave Chappelle’s series that provides a comedic and sometimes defiant look at American culture; "South Park", celebrating its 10th hit season, features the animated misadventures of four eight-year-old boys whose everyday lives regularly intersect with world events.

MTV:
Beavis & Butthead: The Mike Judge Collection, Vol. 1", jam-packed with 40 episodes, including special director’s cut episodes, an exclusive featurette, and those ever-popular music videos with classic Beavis and Butt-Head commentary; "Laguna Beach", reality series that follows the lives of privileged teens as they deal with the high school politics of hookups, breakups, love triangles and popular cliques; "Gauntlet 2", features Real World and Road Rules alumni in teams that are divided into "Rookies" versus "Veterans" as they face off and compete for cash and prizes; "My Super Sweet Sixteen", MTV’s News & Docs series that documents coming-of-age celebrations and follows teens – and their parents – as they prepare for one of the biggest nights of their lives; "Jackass", hosted by Johnny Knoxville, this series features absurd pranks and ridiculous stunts performed by a bumbling cast of trained professionals; and "Punked", the show features Ashton Kutcher and his team of co-conspirators pulling off elaborate pranks on his celebrity friends.

MTV2:
"WonderShowzen", an absurd, smart and hilariously brilliant comedy/variety show that spoofs children’s television to create an entirely unique adult comedy.

Nickelodeon:
"Avatar: The Last Airbender", the epic, action-filled journey of a 12-year-old boy torn between fulfilling his fate as the long-awaited Avatar and just wanting to be a regular kid. "SpongeBob SquarePants", chronicling the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends; "Zoey 101", a live-action series starring Jamie Lynn Spears as 13-year-old Zoey Brooks, a winsome leader whose independent nature is put to the test at the newly co-ed Pacific Coast Academy; " The Fairly OddParents", an animated series that follows 10-year-old Timmy Turner as his two fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda, appear unexpectedly on the scene; and "Dora The Explorer", a play-along, animated adventure series starring a seven-year-old Latina heroine.

The N:
"Beyond the Break", a drama series about the competitive world of surfing, where four women pursue their dreams of becoming professional surfers; " South of Nowhere", the dramatic series about the five members of the Carlin family and their multi-faceted journey of identity and self-discovery; and "O’Grady", an animated series about four self-centered high school students dealing with the "weirdness," an inexplicable, phenomena that afflicts their town.

About MTV Networks:

MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its interactive properties worldwide, including Neopets, Xfire, IFILM, GameTrailers.com, and online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. The Company’s web properties recorded more than 175 million video streams in June, a triple-digit increase over the same period last year. Within one year, the Company has launched 24 broadband channels globally, including MTV Overdrive, mtvU’s Uber, TurboNick, VH1’s VSpot and Comedy Central’s Motherload. All feature dynamic original content and are expected to stream more than 1 billion videos by year’s end. Further, viewing of MTVN’s on-air channels accounts for over 25% of all time spent watching cable television, with such valuable brands as Nickelodeon which is now enjoying its 11th year as the top- rated cable network.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services – MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Contacts:

Jennifer Hakes
Google
650/253-1894
jhakes@google.com

Lauren Hurvitz
MTVN
212/846-8036
lauren.hurvitz@mtvstaff.com

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006

XM Satellite Radio and Google Deliver Targeted Advertising to Satellite Radio Listeners

Partnership will connect XM Satellite Radios audience to Googles expansive network of advertiser

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and NEW YORK, NY, August 2, 2006 – Google, Inc., (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced that it has reached an agreement with XM Satellite Radio, the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than seven million subscribers, (NASDAQ: XMSR) to introduce and make available commercial advertising inventory on XM’s non-music channels to Google’s extensive advertising base through its dMarc media network (www.dmarc.net). As part of the deal, Google advertisers will now have a simple, automated way to reach XM’s millions of subscribers nationwide and XM will have access to Google’s large and small advertisers to offer relevant, targeted messages to their subscribers. After months of trials, the new platform is now in full production giving Google advertisers distribution through XM Satellite Radio.

As part of the deal, Google advertisers will have a simple, automated way to reach XM’s millions of subscribers nationwide and XM will have access to Google’s large and small advertisers to offer relevant, targeted messages to their subscribers. After months of trials, the new platform is now in full production for dMarc advertisers. Google AdWords’ customers will be able to place terrestrial and satellite radio spots when the dMarc platform is integrated into AdWords targeted for fourth quarter of this year.

“XM is excited about the opportunity to leverage Google’s extensive advertising base to open up a new revenue stream while providing marketers with a new way to reach consumers in an environment of compelling content and limited commercial loads,” said D. Scott Karnedy, senior vice president, sales and marketing solutions, XM Satellite Radio.

The dMarc platform, acquired by Google in January 2006, simplifies the sales process, scheduling, delivery and reporting of radio advertising, enabling advertisers to more efficiently purchase and track their campaigns on terrestrial radio, and now on XM Satellite Radio. For XM, Google’s technology automatically schedules and inserts advertising across XM’s non-music commercial channels, helping to increase revenue with a wealth of new advertisers, while decreasing the costs previously associated with processing advertisements.

“This partnership with XM Satellite Radio will provide a powerful marketing and distribution tool for Google advertisers,” said Ryan Steelberg, Google’s head of radio operations. “By providing access to XM’s premier satellite audience, Google advertisers will have an easy way to target, schedule, deliver and measure satellite radio campaigns in a timely and efficient manner.”

About XM Satellite Radio

XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America’s number one satellite radio service with more than seven million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM’s 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music channels, sports, talk, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Porsche, is available in more than 130 different vehicle models for 2006. XM’s industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit www.xmradio.com.

About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio’s service, the Company’s dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-3-06. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio’s Investor Relations Department.

Contacts:

Nathaniel Brown
XM Satellite Radio
212-708-6170
nathaniel.brown@xmradio.com

Brandon McCormick
Google Inc.
650-253-0674
bmccormick@google.com

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Headlines Blare For Celebrities On Weekly Google Zeitgeist

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