Search Engine Race of 2004
The Search Engines have always interacted with one another, and of course competed with one another. However, in the last few months we are seeing changes take effect at such an alarming rate that the entire playing field is changing faster than anyone can keep up with. This is important to understand because the changes we see this year will effect the way people search and use the internet from here on out.
To the right is a shrunken Search Engine Relationship Chart as produced by Bruce Clay, which can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.bruceclay.com. This chart was accurate as of July of 2007; updated from original article as there were many changes in these last three years. The chart shows who provides who with search results, directory results and paid results. This has always been just a little confusing and a lot of work to keep track of.
Over the course of the last year, Yahoo purchased, directly or indirectly, Overture, Inktomi, FAST, AlltheWeb, AltaVista and few other smaller search companies. Then, starting in March 2004, they dropped Google as their data provider and started cutting additional costs by eliminating any duplicate organizations. First, Inktomi ( who operated as the largest paid directory supplying results for MSN, LookSmart and others ) was removed from the picture by not excepting any new submissions - although they are honoring past contracts until they expire. FAST also was then deleted in the same way thus eliminating all paid submission options except for the AskJeeves/Teoma directory. Yahoo then created its own submission directory which gives several ways to submit ( $300 blanket submission, a PPC styled submission that disappears when the money runs out and a free crawler submission which is very slow to take effect ). Yahoo continued on the rampage by discontinuing AlltheWeb and AltaVista. These two engines still operate, but display Yahoo's search results. They are in effect, truly dead.
Google, now feeling the heat of losing its largest financial contributor, was in need of attracting the people who would follow Yahoo and Google's past source of revenue. To combat this loss they needed to do something drastic, and do so very quickly. Instead of focusing on fixing the inaccurate search result mess that they had created during the holiday season, they took the easier approach and started offering more features. More ways to find data, a new layout and new services with Froogle & GMail. Netscape did something similar a few years back and has nearly died because of it. But before they realized what was going on they helped Yahoo by allowing them to lease server space and buy search results only to be out-done by the fledgling company. Then after Yahoo became successful they did the same for Google. Now Google is doing the same for Amazon's A9.com. Many of us are expecting Google to go down in flames because they fit the pattern so exactly.
MSN was now put in an tight spot. They had already made public their desire to become a full fledged Search Portal and moved from LookSmart to Inktomi in order to get more accurate search results. But now that they will soon loose their directory provider they were forced to act with speed to get their search empire finished before Yahoo buried them with the final demise of Inktomi. We are all watching this very closely.
These three ( Yahoo, MSN & Google ) are the surviving big players in the search market. All three are working as fast as they can to attract more users, and all three are forgetting what is most important; accurate search results.
What ever transpires, be prepared for significant changes in the way you use the internet.