Google Eyeing Reuters?

Rumors and speculation are abound with talk of Google considering the purchase of the Reuters news agency. To many, the move seems unlikely but if it happened, it would certainly change some dynamics in the search world and the news world. Google's always one of the big talking points in the search engine world and when they announced a few weeks ago they would be selling stock to the tune of $4 billion or so, they became the talk of the business world for a while too, particularly with what they would do with all the money. In a recent article by Gord Hotchkiss of Enquiro, he suggested that as long as someone else, namely Microsoft, controlled the "chokepoint," Google and others would always be at a disadvantage. The chokepoint in this case is the operating system called Windows and Microsoft has exercised firm control over it for years. As Hotchkiss put it: Currently, Google is building a war chest. They know as long as they're not in control of the choke point, they're incredibly vulnerable. The recent activity shows Google desperately trying to add layer upon layer of touch points with its user base. Chat through Google. Network socially through Google. E-mail through Google. Search the desktop through Google. Unfortunately, each layer is built on the Microsoft OS. It's like building your fort on enemy territory. At some point, the landlord may just kick you out. And I'm not sure $4 billion is enough to change that. Now, the only Google is going to get there is through innovation. They're not going to outspend Microsoft. They're going to have to come up with something darn near insane in its vision that just might work. There's been talk Google building their own network of Wi-Fi connected homes throughout the country and beyond. That's certainly visionary thinking. The problem with visionaries is that even though they may have a wonderful vision of the future, sometimes they're willing to literally do whatever it takes to reach that vision.