Google searches already access Wikipedia and other Wikimedia resources through the services that host the organization's content, but some have speculated that Google wants the encyclopedia content to compete with MSN Search's Encarta content and Yahoo, which accesses the Columbia Encyclopedia.
eMarketer Whitepaper: Optimizing the E-Commerce Experience
From the Web to the Contact Center, are you prepared to proactively engage and keep your savvy customers? Read how e-commerce leaders are optimizing their sites with ratings, reviews, live help, Web analytics, mobile and more.
The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates the Wikipedia project among others, said Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has offered to host part of the free encyclopedia's content.
Wikipedia's entries are written and edited in an open-source, collaborative fashion by members of the online community. It is growing rapidly and needs more server space and bandwidth to maintain that growth.
Google spokesperson Nate Tyler would give only the following statement when TechNewsWorld requested information on the offer:
"While we don't have anything specific to announce today, Google and the Wikimedia Foundation are collaboratively evaluating creative ways to support Wikipedia.org and its community."
The foundation posted a short announcement on its Web site, which said that the terms (as yet undisclosed) were being considered by the Wikimedia board and that the group would meet with Google sometime in March.
The notice also made it clear that the terms of the offer did not require the Wikipedia to include advertising.
Google searches already access Wikipedia and other Wikimedia resources through the services that host the organization's content, but some have speculated that Google wants the encyclopedia content to compete with MSN Search's Encarta content and Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO), which accesses the Columbia Encyclopedia.
Yahoo already has an arrangement with Wikipedia. According to the foundation's site, the deal 
made last spring "added them as one of the search engine widgets offered for Web/Wikipedia searching when our internal search goes down, and we also provided them with a feed of our articles (something we needed to do anyway).
"In exchange, we were apparently linked more prominently, or more effectively, in their searches, and have access to stats on how many clickthroughs we get from them. It's not clear how we were linked more prominently, but clickthroughs increased by a factor of 3 in the months after this agreement (and then leveled off). No extensive contact since then."
Most of Wikimedia's site hosting is paid for by the foundation. Several different Internet companies also provide support.
Print Version
E-Mail Article
Reprints
More by Susan B. Shor
Related Stories
|
Google Quietly Moves into Domain Registrar Service February 02, 2005 
Google's move to become a domain registrar seemed certain to spark more speculation about its future, though domain registration is arguably less of a variation from its core search and paid search technologies than some other forays Google has made, such as its efforts in the blogging space or its Gmail service.
|
Google Gaps Leave Search Susceptible October 22, 2004 
While Google has risen in prominence and popularity, the details of its search software, even though it is open source, are largely unknown to outsiders. This week's security issues, however, appear to have provided more insight into how Google works.
|
A Google Browser? Speculation Rampant September 24, 2004 
Forrester Research analyst Charlene Li told the E-Commerce Times that Google made its name in the search-engine market by developing superior technology, and it knows it can extend its reach into other markets in the same way, especially in areas where existing technology leaves consumers wanting.
|
Google and the Chinese Government September 22, 2004 
Bill Xia of DIT says that on September 15 a volunteer working with DynaWeb noticed that Google's Chinese news was returning different results depending on whether the search was conducted in China or in the United States.
|
Gauging the Google Effect August 19, 2004 
"In the end, the reality is that Google might be the best of its breed and even a profit and growth machine, but the valuations still make investors nervous," said Tom Taulli, IPO analyst for CurrentOfferings.com. "Also, where else do you invest? It's not like there are a half-dozen other Googles out there."
|
Related News Alerts
More by Susan B. Shor
|
Salesnet President Jonathan Tang Ready to Take On Salesforce.com February 07, 2006 
"We think it's Salesnet's time now. We've been around since the beginning, we've been lying low, but you're going to start to see more of us. We've done it through organic growth and happy customers. We continue to focus on customers."
|
Comcast Follows Time Warner in Offering 'Family' Programming Tier December 23, 2005 
"The demand for this type of tier is coming from the FCC and Christian conservatives. It has nothing to do with legitimate consumer demand," Todd Chanko, senior analyst at Jupiter Media, told the E-Commerce Times.
|
High-Risk Flaw Found in Symantec's Software December 22, 2005 
"Part of the significance of this vulnerability announcement is that your machine can be exploited without you needing to do anything at all. You don't even have to open an e-mail or attachment, and this happens with the default configuration of the product," said Forrester Research senior analyst Michael Gavin.
|
Get Business and Technology News Alerts
Most Popular | Spotlight Features | Exclusives
This Week on ECT News Network | Podcasts
Online Retail Transaction Performance Indices
Inside E-Commerce Times
|
Reader Services
|
Corporate
|
Headline Feeds
Talkback: 
