Google LLC
Google LLC is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, search, cloud computing, software, and hardware. Google was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University in California. Here is a detailed overview:
History
- Founding: Google was founded on September 4, 1998, initially as a research project, known as "Backrub," which was designed to measure the importance of academic web pages.
- Incorporation: It was incorporated as a California privately held company on September 7, 1998.
- IPO: Google went public with its initial public offering (IPO) on August 19, 2004, with the sale of 19.6 million shares at a price of $85 per share.
- Restructuring: In 2015, Google underwent a major corporate restructuring, creating a new parent company called Alphabet Inc.. This move was designed to make the company's "Google" division more focused on its internet businesses while allowing other ventures like Waymo (self-driving car technology), DeepMind (AI research), and Verily (life sciences) to operate more independently.
Products and Services
- Search Engine: Google's primary product is its search engine, which provides results to user queries. It uses complex algorithms like PageRank to deliver relevant search results.
- Advertising: Google earns most of its revenue through its advertising services, primarily via AdSense and AdWords, now known as Google Ads.
- Cloud Computing: Google Cloud Platform offers a suite of cloud computing services that run on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products.
- Hardware: Google has also ventured into hardware with products like Google Pixel smartphones, Google Home smart speakers, and Google Nest smart home devices.
- Software: Google develops numerous software applications including Google Chrome, Android OS, Google Maps, and YouTube.
Corporate Structure
- Alphabet Inc: Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., which was formed to manage Google's various businesses and projects that are not directly related to the company's internet services.
- Leadership: Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google LLC since October 2015, when he replaced Larry Page, who became the CEO of Alphabet Inc.
Controversies and Issues
- Privacy Concerns: Google has faced numerous criticisms regarding user privacy, particularly with how it collects and uses personal data.
- Antitrust Cases: The company has been involved in several antitrust investigations, especially in the European Union, concerning its dominance in search and online advertising markets.
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