Tracing the History of Google: From Humble Beginnings to Global Dominance

Before becoming a global powerhouse shaping the digital landscape, Google was started as a small startup in a garage. Nobody knew that this event would be changing the major dynamics of information, communication, and marketing technology. Before jumping onto the main topic, let’s introduce you to the irony of the situation that we have to ask about the history of Google to Google itself. This blog will be a simple overview of the biography of Google in which major changes in its history are mentioned. So tighten your seat belts, you are part of a time machine that will take you through the journey of the history of Google.  

Major Events in the History of Google 

As you are aware Google is not just a search engine or a list of apps for example Gmail, YouTube, and Chrome, but an organization that has brought huge changes into the web world. The history of Google is the story of people in which currently around 70,000 employees are working in almost 50 countries in the world. 

1995-2000

• In 2995, Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed a search engine called “Backrub” to improve the accuracy of search results on the Internet. 
• In 1997, after receiving funding from an investor, Backrub became Google which was represented as googol. It was represented as a mathematical term with 1 followed by 100 zeros, emphasizing the vastness of the information that the search engine could catalog.
• In 1998, Google Inc. as an organization was officially established. 
• In 2000, Google AdWords was initiated due to which Google earned revenue through ad sales. 

2001-2005

• In 2001, the history of Google reached an important milestone regarding leadership changes. Eric Schmidt who joined as the chairman became the CEO of the company and Sergey Brin and Larry Page were named company presidents. 
• In 2004, Google started its Webmail service, Gmail which offered massive free storage to its users. 
• In April 2005, Google Maps was launched which helped its users to navigate the real world. It included Google Earth, a 3D mapping technology for users to see far-flung locations on the computer. 
• In August 2005, history of Google introduced a voice and text program called Google Chat or Gchat.

2006-2010

• In 2006, the search giant took a major move in the entertainment industry by buying a famous internet video company, YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock.
• In 2007, Google bought online advertising company DoubleClick for $3.1 billion and the company began working directly with web publishers and serving display advertisements. 
• In 2008, Chrome, a fast and streamlined web browser launched by Google that competes with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Apple’s Safari.
• In 2010, The Nexus One, the first mobile phone of Google was launched which had features of small size and powerful camera. 

2011-2015

• In 2011, Google purchased the traffic app Waze for around $1.3 billion which gathers traffic information from users. Google+ is introduced as the new version of Google Buzz, the company’s previous social network.
• In 2012, Google became a consumer gadget maker by buying Motorola Mobility for 12.5 billion dollars. In the same year, Google Glass was introduced to gather feedback for a public release which was eventually scrapped. 
• In August 2015, Sundar Pichai was named the CEO of the company, and Google merged into a newly formed company named Alphabet, with Page serving as its CEO. The new parent entity encompasses businesses such as Nest, Google X, Fiber, and Google Ventures.
• In September 2015, Google got its new makeover with a new streamlined logo. Due to the new color font, it became easier to read on smaller screens like mobile devices. 

2016-2020

• In 2016, the history of Google experienced an attention-grabbing moment in the field of Artificial Intelligence with the introduction of Amazon Alexa, a Google Home Device that can be controlled by voice. 
• In June 2017, the European Union imposed a historic $2.7 billion antitrust fine on Google for showing bias towards its shopping service in search results.
• In September 2017, Google bought HTC for 1.1 billion dollars after years of working with the company. The move indicated that Google is serious about developing cell phone hardware. 
• In 2018, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced that it had surpassed $100 billion in annual sales for the first time in Google’s 20-year history. This achievement underscores the robustness of Google’s advertising sales division.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Google announced a variety of cost-saving measures, including reducing the pace of hiring and placing greater emphasis on investments in machinery and data centers.

2021-2023

• In January 2021, the Australian government introduced a proposed law mandating that Google compensate media organizations for the usage of their content.
• In 2022, Google announced to addition of a ‘privacy guide’ to the Chrome browser.
• In 2023, the highly anticipated AI tool from Google, Bard, was launched. Additionally, Duet AI for Google Workspace was integrated into all Workspace Apps.
• In the same year of 2023, Google expanded its product lineup by introducing the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, along with its inaugural Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold (foldable phone). Additionally, the Pixel Watch 2 and the Pixel 7A were also unveiled.

Things You Can Learn from the History of Google: 

Google has become one of the most successful search engines in the digital era and you have read about its major milestones in the history of Google section mentioned above. There are a few things listed below which you can learn and implement in your daily life: 

1. Prioritize the user above all else.
2. Focus on doing one thing perfectly.
3. Speed is preferable to slowness.
4. The internet thrives on democracy.
5. Answers are needed everywhere, not just at your desk.
6. It’s possible to profit without compromising ethics.
7. The amount of information available is limitless.
8. Information is essential across all borders.
9. Professionalism isn’t defined by attire.
10. Strive for excellence, not just competence.

Conclusion: 

The story of Google is an extraordinary example of how an original idea can transform into a powerhouse of global force in technology. The history of Google has exemplified how it can influence our daily lives and continue to innovate in major fields. Undoubtedly, it will shape the future of not just technology but also of every human being on the planet. We hope you enjoyed reading our blog and received mindful insights from it.