Google has become an integral part of our daily lives. Google was founded on September 4, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were PhD students at Stanford University. They own about 14% of Google’s publicly listed shares and control 56% of its voting power through super-voting stock. Google went public in 2004. In 2015, Google was reorganized as a part of Alphabet Inc., with Google as its largest subsidiary. Sundar Pichai became the CEO of Google on October 24, 2015, and later also became the CEO of Alphabet on December 3, 2019.
Google has grown significantly and now offers many products and services beyond its search engine. These include Gmail for email, Waze and Maps for navigation, Cloud for cloud computing, Chrome for web browsing, YouTube for video sharing, Workspace for productivity, Android for operating systems, Drive for cloud storage, Translate for language translation, Photos for photo storage, Meet for video calls, Nest for smart home devices, Pixel phones, Pixel Watch and Fitbit for wearable tech, YouTube Music for music streaming, YouTube TV for video on demand, Google Assistant and Gemini for AI, TensorFlow for machine learning APIs, and TPU for AI chips. Some discontinued products are Stadia for gaming, Glass, Google+, Reader, Play Music, Nexus, Hangouts, and Inbox by Gmail.
History of Google
Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were PhD students at Stanford University and was incorporated on September 4, 1998. Initially operating from a garage in Menlo Park, California, Google’s mission was to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Over the years, Google achieved significant milestones, including going public with an IPO in 2004 and launching products like Gmail, Google Maps, and Android. In 2015, Google restructured under a new parent company, Alphabet Inc., allowing it to focus on its core internet products while Alphabet managed other ventures.
Discover the Magic of Chandragiri Hills: A Hidden Gem in Nepal
To know more click here:https://light.vintbit.com/general-knowledge/ravi-river-history-indus-treaty/
How Google Works
Google’s search engine uses web crawlers, also known as spiders, to scan and index web pages by following links and collecting data, which is stored in Google’s vast index. This process ensures that the most relevant and up-to-date information is available to users. Once indexed, Google’s algorithms determine the ranking of each page based on factors like keyword relevance, page quality, and user experience. The goal is to provide users with the most accurate and helpful search results. Google continuously updates its algorithms to enhance the search experience.
Google Products and services
Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite, is a collection of cloud computing, productivity, and collaboration tools including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Meet, designed to enhance productivity and streamline workflows for businesses and individuals. Google Cloud provides a suite of cloud computing services running on the same infrastructure Google uses internally for its end-user products, offering solutions for data storage, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, and is widely used by enterprises to leverage Google’s powerful computing capabilities.
Corporate affairs
Stock Price Trends and Quarterly Earnings
Google’s initial public offering (IPO) occurred on August 19, 2004, with 19,605,052 shares offered at $85 each, raising $1.67 billion and giving the company a market capitalization of over $23 billion. The stock performed well, reaching $350 per share on October 31, 2007, driven by strong sales and earnings in online advertising. Google shares later split into GOOG class C and GOOGL class A shares and are listed on NASDAQ and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under Alphabet Inc. In the third quarter of 2005, Google saw a 700% profit increase as advertisers shifted to the internet. By 2011, 96% of its revenue came from advertising. In 2012, Google generated $50 billion in annual revenue for the first time. By the third quarter of 2013, quarterly revenue reached $14.89 billion, with significant growth in online ad clicks. By January 2014, Google’s market capitalization had grown to $397 billion.
Strategies to avoid the Tax
Google uses tax avoidance strategies, saving $3.1 billion between 2007 and 2010 by routing profits through Ireland, the Netherlands, and Bermuda, lowering its non-U.S. tax rate to 2.3%. This prompted a French investigation in 2012. In 2020, Google restructured its global tax practices, moving intellectual property back to the U.S. It also settled with the UK in January 2016, paying £130 million in back taxes. In 2017, Google shifted $22.7 billion from the Netherlands to Bermuda to reduce its tax bill. The company ranked 5th in lobbying spending in 2013 and 2nd in campaign donations in 2012.1
Tips for Using Google Effectively
To use Google Search effectively, it’s helpful to know some tips and tricks. For instance, using quotation marks around a phrase will search for that exact phrase, while a minus sign before a word will exclude it from your results. Additionally, the asterisk (*) acts as a wildcard to fill in blanks in your query, helping you find more precise information. Google also offers advanced features to enhance your search experience. Google Scholar is great for finding academic papers, Google Books gives you access to a vast library of books, and Google Trends allows you to see what topics are currently trending. These tools are invaluable for conducting thorough research and staying informed about current events and popular topics.