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What does Google gain? Maybe some data, and that's probably what this is about, getting speed test data from lots of users. But revenue wise I don't think it ga

What does Google gain? Maybe some data, and that's probably what this is about, getting speed test data from lots of users. But revenue wise I don't think it gains anything and sties currently offering the service go out of business over night. Why go after Genius, well probably because it has some peripheral business interest like Google music which is benefiting from this behavior.

dpflan 7y ago
I can see: speedtest indicates an interest in checking internet service which could lead to internet in Google Fiber in a particular region: assuming GF is still functioning. This is probably a stretch. Yes, making a node that connects to another service seems like a goal.
- dodobirdlord 7y ago
  Having a good idea of what kinds of internet speeds people have around the world is no doubt hugely useful for all sorts of things like planning Stadia[0]. But moreover, Google is a member of the M-Lab[1] project that runs the speedtest servers, so why not add the feature? [0]https://stadia.dev/ https://stadia.dev/ [1]https://www.measurementlab.net/ https://www.measurementlab.net/
  - Proven 7y ago
    Wut? Nobody complained about Google having it, but about it being fake-ranked by Google to appear above the more popular Okla.
malcolmwhite 7y ago
Google wants to keep users at google.com so it can keep showing them ads. Each time a user clicks away to speedtest.net or genius.com, that is a missed opportunity for revenue.
- jjeaff 7y ago
  Except it's very likely that those 3rd party sites are monetized with Google AdWords. But I guess Google can make a bit more by cutting out the middle man.
close04 7y ago
> What does Google gain? ~20 years ago some people were wondering what does Google gain from giving free service. The point is Google is trying to be the one stop shop for the whole internet no matter what you need. Unfortunately I don't see anything changing for Google especially in the US where lobbying is such a cheap way to turn all legislation to their advantage.

dpflan 7y ago

I can see: speedtest indicates an interest in checking internet service which could lead to internet in Google Fiber in a particular region: assuming GF is still functioning. This is probably a stretch. Yes, making a node that connects to another service seems like a goal.

dodobirdlord 7y ago
Having a good idea of what kinds of internet speeds people have around the world is no doubt hugely useful for all sorts of things like planning Stadia[0]. But moreover, Google is a member of the M-Lab[1] project that runs the speedtest servers, so why not add the feature? [0]https://stadia.dev/ https://stadia.dev/ [1]https://www.measurementlab.net/ https://www.measurementlab.net/
- Proven 7y ago
  Wut? Nobody complained about Google having it, but about it being fake-ranked by Google to appear above the more popular Okla.

malcolmwhite 7y ago

Google wants to keep users at google.com so it can keep showing them ads. Each time a user clicks away to speedtest.net or genius.com, that is a missed opportunity for revenue.

jjeaff 7y ago
Except it's very likely that those 3rd party sites are monetized with Google AdWords. But I guess Google can make a bit more by cutting out the middle man.

close04 7y ago

> What does Google gain? ~20 years ago some people were wondering what does Google gain from giving free service. The point is Google is trying to be the one stop shop for the whole internet no matter what you need. Unfortunately I don't see anything changing for Google especially in the US where lobbying is such a cheap way to turn all legislation to their advantage.