First off, I’ve always liked Google. However, that being said, slowly over time I’m finding more and more that they are using their vast & pervasive control over the little browser window most of us look thru every day to subtly manipulate the Internet into this commercial monster that only they control –instead of the people who actually make the web exist—that is, US—the people who do the surfing and site building.. They have become a Monopoly, that not unlike Microsoft, wants to dominate the Internet to the point where the original concept of the Internet will be a distant fading memory.

As a business owner and hotelier for a major franchise chain in the US, I was thrilled at the idea of the Google Places when they first came out—- with its lure of a free web site for business owners to set up. I assumed they would try to make money by selling me services (which they did). The real shock was when they started selling space to 3rd party resellers (e.g. Expedia, Trip Advisor) to advertise my rooms for sale thru their 3rd party sites on my Places site— (however they won’t even display rates from any of the major chains in this same way). What’s the problem you say — the hotel is getting business. Yes, BUT I have to pay these 3rd parties commission fees exactly like a travel agent, plus extra booking fees. All of this means Google is indirectly extracting 15-20% out of my pockets on every reservation they gets sold on my site. I could pull down my Google Place site—but how can I not have a presence on the Internet?

Considering that they also filter who sees my sight, where they see it, and when— the end result is that Google is now essentially controlling how, when, where, and with whom I do business. Because I have to pay fees that I once didn’t, they are also indirectly influencing what rates I sell hotels rooms for. Ultimately somebody has to pay for all these added fees — and eventually these fees will be passed on to all of us—the consumer.

The Google Hotspots is just another “wolf in sheepskin”. Right now, it looks cool— seems useful— and its another “free” service from Google. What’s to argue with?. I say don’t be fooled. This is like a drug dealer giving out “free” samples—once they get us hooked— it won’t be free any more. Trust me. I’ll say it again, when it comes to Google, There is no such thing as a free lunch!

On a related note, I’m consistently getting 30 results listed per page at the moment for Google searches. Has anyone else noticed this, or is just me?

Cheers, Jon