Google Web Accelerator

Google have launched a Web Accelerator. Search Engine Lowdown asks if this a prelude to the Google browser. Please, can we have a moratorium on the Google Browser predictions? First rule of analyst predictions: you can't make an open-ended prediction, repeat it every month and then say you were right because it comes true three years later.

And is Google having a laugh? The world's most (fill in some adjective) Internet company ... comes up with this? Web accelerators have been around since the Middle Ages, and been fiercely promoted by such exponents of Internet best practice as ... AOL.

For coverage of the Web Accelerator features, see InsideGoogle (and here), and Search Engine Watch and WebMasterWorld.

Update: I am sitting here racking my brain, and I have to say that I understand why there are so many people focused on a Google browser and IM. It is the secret hope that the company that took two years to develop Gmail and kept it in interminable beta status, that could not develop its own blogging technology, that came up with a pathetic closed-caption video search service, that is being outperformed on Web 2.0 by a bookstore, has some secret Ace up its sleeve. Google is blessed with huge brainpower, vast amounts of computing resources, a decent pile of money, good looks and the wellwishing of a billion Internet users, and in return it gives us a Web Accelerator?  Come on, a Web Accelerator? From the company that said it benefits from the growth of broadband? Should Google not fix Blogger and Orkut? Should it not sort out its RSS and API strategy? Should it not deliver some serious mobile services? (See some Google antihype here).

OK, wait, Google did give us Google Maps in the UK. Thank heaven for small mercies.

Comments

[wins]

I really agree with you on that point. It's prelude to google broswer and webserver(caching analyzing solution)

[James MacAonghus]

Actually, I think we disagree. My whole point is "enough already".

[Mike Lambert]

For my alternative viewpoint on how the Web Accelerator actually is essential to Google's core offering of spam-free search listings:

http://www.jall.org/blog/2005/05/05/pagerank-20/

[Mark]

hey, you talk about gmail as if it's something that the company did baad. Cmon! stop pretending that it sucks because it's beta.It's the best and the most modern webmail there is. hands down. get real man.

And could not develop their own blogging technology? Since as you state it this site belongs to a research firm, you of all people should know that technology acquisition is a common thing in the industry. It's a strategic decision and it doesn't say something about their incapability to build their own blogging tech in house. Aqute research?! gimme a break!