Google's Second-Quarter Profit Quadruples, Washingtonpost.com, 21 July 2005

“Although Google's earnings and revenue continue to rise at a rapid clip, some of the gains weren't quite as large as in recent quarters _ something that often happens as companies get bigger and the comparisons become tougher. For instance, in the first quarter, Google's earnings surged to a more than sixfold improvement. Google's biggest advantage remains the enduring popularity of its search engine, which continues to have a significant lead over its closest rival, Yahoo. That factor is crucial, because every search request submitted to Google or one of its business partners provides the company with another chance to present the ad links that generate revenue each time they are clicked upon.”

Full Story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/21/AR2005072101563_2.html?nav=rss_technology



Update: Google's Q2 revenue shoots through the roof, InfoWorld, 21 July 2005

“Google had revenue of $1.38 billion, up 98 percent compared with 2004's second quarter. Excluding $494 million that Google paid to its ad network partners, a portion of revenue often called traffic acquisition costs, revenue was $886 million. Google remains "intently focused" on business opportunities outside the U.S. The company also continues to address the problem of click fraud, and it has been able to keep it under control. Another area Google is focusing on is video search and indexing, through its Google Video search engine and its playback mechanism.”

Full Story at http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/07/21/HNgoogleprofit_1.html



Microsoft profit up,shares off on outlook, Reuters, 21 July 2005

“Microsoft Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit rose nearly 40 percent on a tax gain and strong demand for personal computers using its software, but a weaker-than-expected revenue outlook fanned fears growth is slowing, and shares fell 2 percent. Microsoft would get a boost from the release of the company's next-generation Xbox 360 gaming console this year, new database software and contract renewals for the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn.”

Full Story at http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2005-07-22T004323Z_01_N21442805_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESS-TECH-MICROSOFT-EARNS-DC.XML



Microsoft's 4Q Profits Up 37 Percent, Yahoo.com, 22 July 2005

“Microsoft Corp. reported a 37 percent jump in fourth-quarter profits Thursday, citing strong sales across an array of products, from servers to the company's growing Xbox video game business. Liddell cited a bigger-than-expected uptick in demand for personal computers, and double-digit growth in sales of servers and tools, as well as Xbox consoles, video games and online game service subscriptions.”

Full Story at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050722/ap_on_hi_te/earns_microsoft



China Internet users grow 18 pct to hit 103 million, Yahoo.com, 22 July 05

“The number of Web users in China, the world's second largest Internet market, grew by 9 million people in the first half of this year to hit 103 million. State media previously predicted 120 Chinese million would be surfing the Web by the end of the year as computers find their way into more homes and domestic telecoms networks grow. The burgeoning online gaming market proved especially lucrative, with Internet gamers spending 4 billion yuan on virtual equipment for their online alter-egos in the first six months”

Full Story at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050722/wr_nm/china_internet_dc



FTC Targets X-Rated Spam, eWeek.com, 21 July 2005

“The Federal Trade Commission has charged seven companies with violating federal laws that require labels on e-mail containing sexually explicit content. Suits filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday seek civil penalties against TJ Web Productions, Cyberheat Inc. and Impulse Media. The other four companies involved in the enforcement action settled with the commission, for a total of $1.15 million.”

Full Story at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1839536,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594



Microsoft: CSI for the FTC, Internetnews.com, 20 July 2005

“The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brought charges against seven companies whose affiliates broke federal anti-spam laws, with help from Microsoft investigators. In addition to lacking the required subject line, the FTC charged that the e-mails contained neither opt-out mechanisms nor a street address; both are required for all commercial e-mails. FTC investigators pored through the hundreds of thousands of e-mails submitted by consumers to identify targets, Kraden said. Then, the agency enlisted Microsoft, which did a similar analysis on its own spam archive, gleaned from over 130,000 "trap accounts."

Full Story at http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3521821



UK regulator wants powers to stop the spammers, The register, 20 July 2005

“The Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO), enforcer of the UK's main anti-spam laws, has received around 600 spam complaints in the past 12 months. But it has taken no legal action, in part because its powers are inadequate and impractical. All of these cases were under the Data Protection Act and concerned either failures to notify the ICO of data processing (a basic requirement that affects most organisations), or unlawful obtaining of personal data without the consent of the data controller (cases that tended to involve dishonesty, not ignorance or carelessness). Most sentences were fines – ranging from £70 to £1,600. Three sentences were conditional discharges – two of 12 months, one of 18 months.”

Full Story at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/20/uk_regulator_seeks_power_to_stop_spammers/