In an article on Mashable today, Facebook is continuing to build its proverbial military might, as it prepares to tackle its much larger foe, Google. In fact, Facebook acquired 18 patents in total from Friendster, for around $40 million.
Image courtesy KeyWebData.com
Understanding Google's biggest weakness, Facebook is attempting to secure the high ground in this impending battle. Facebook understands that Google's biggest weakness is precisely what social media offers; the ability to solicit opinions and feedback from friends and other trusted sources. This is after all, the single biggest influencer of major purchase decisions. Google on the other hand would be at a severe disadvantage if it had to continue organizing search results according to paramters that did not take into account the opinions and feedback of trusted sources.
What does this mean to you ... SEP's readers?
Stay tuned. Google is aware that Facebook is tracking its every movement. Google also likes to acquire patents, and any companies posing unique threats (think YouTube).
1. Expect in the next year, that Facebook will begin to offer a more visible social search type service, and attempt to slowly migrate Google search traffic away from Google.
2. Expect Google to up the ante, and start purchasing more social type sites at an increased rate.
Summary:
It is really peculiar though that this happens the day after Google announces the closure of Google Wave. Perhaps just another warning shot across the bow. Let the arms race continue.