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Re: What is Google?

Posted by Steve Smith on Feb 26, 2013; 11:50pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Wow-6-whole-days-without-a-Nexus-4-post-tp7581833p7581883.html

Doug -

Just to add fuel to your fire, Bechtel Corp was estimated to have $27B
in revenues in 2010, by now they may also be $50B though without their
cronies running the (top levels) of the gov't, maybe their revenues are
down.  Couldn't find a current estimate and of course, they are a
privately held corp so no disclosures required!

Aside from "owning" the US nuclear complex (via contracts and
partnerships), and having a huge presence in petroleum and military
engineering, it isn't clear they have any vision or "technical" agenda
except to make money.  In fact, I think Stephen Bechtel was quoted
saying almost exactly that during the competition for the LANL
contract.   For better or worse.

Saudi Aramco is roughly 10 times Google in Revenue ($500Bish?) but is
also a *state-owned* corporation in a state which is essentially owned
by a royal family... hmm...  Bechtel corp is owned pretty much by a
single family...  and controls much of the energy (and weapons?) of a
nation... hmmm...?

- Steve



>
>> What is Google? It is a $50 billion company. That's what it is.
> Who gets 96% of its revenue from advertising...  which makes it
> abundantly NOTHING like any other company in the game at that scale?
>
> Clear channel owns a lot of billboards... radio stations, XM, etc...
> but at $6B revenue and no active founder(s) and no significant
> technology corner?
>
> Amazon is maybe the closest thing to compare to Google @ $62B revenue,
> no bricks and mortar, and only a few years older, still run by it's
> founder?
>
> Virgin Records/Atlantic/Galactic might be nearly as *eclectic* if a
> bit lower in revenue?  I don't know what Branson's role is... beyond
> being the token Knight with a flambouyant  reputation?  I assume he
> calls the shots around Galactic if not Atlantic. Records has long
> since gotten folded into Capitol... I"m sure he's still making money
> from there, but not calling any shots?
>
> Apple, of course, while Jobs was still alive, had a tiny bit of the
> same breadth/depth/focus. $150B?
>
> Microsoft?  Lumbering beast, getting bogged down by it's own (former)
> leadership.   Who would have thought Apple would ever exceed MS in
> revenues?   $75B?
>
> Apologies if I fumbled any numbers or facts here... it was a quick
> scan...  I'm just not ready to sweep Google's behaviour, presence,
> circumstance under the carpet of "big corporation can't help itself".
>
> - Steve
>
> - Steve
>
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