Google 2006: The Year in Products

Google Video was announced in January at the Consumer Electronics show. Though the app suffered from some UI problems and users were slow to adopt it, Google continued to draw content partners like the NBA and NHL. After Google added a link to the service

Google announced Google Pack, a suite of Google and third-party software, during the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Many observers saw the offering as a sign of increasing competition with Microsoft, since each product in Google Pack competes with

In January Google announced it would introduce a new version of its search engine for the Chinese market. But to obey Chinas censorship laws, Google agreed to purge its results

Google offered a test release in February, and a full release in April, but observers wondered what market this product was meant for.

As another sign of its geeky wanderlust, Google launched Google Mars in March.

Google acquired Writely in March, released Google Calendar in April, released Google Spreadsheets in June, and released Google Docs in October. At every turn, Google denied competing directly with Microsoft, arguing that their strategy was more pro-Intern

Google launched Finance in March, but the service has struggled to gain many users.

Google released Google Trends during Analyst Day in May.

Google launched Notebook, Co-Op, and Trends during Analyst Day in May.

In May Google announced Google Co-Op, a platform for building custom vertical searches. Several Google products are based on the technology, including Google Custom Search Engi

Google Checkout launched in June, but it wasnt the PayPal killer some thought it would be. Though some critics said Checkout was too difficult for online merchants to integrate into their sites, by November visits to the payment processor were up 30%.

Google launched this hosted bundle of productivity tools in August. Some observers said Googles offering was a shot across Microsofts bow, but Tom Ri

Google acquired Writely in March, released Google Calendar in April, released Google Spreadsheets in June, and released Google Docs in October.

Google purchased dMarc Broadcasting in January in order to sell ads against radio inventory. Google tested radio ads in at least one market during the summer. Towards the end of the

Google shut down Google Answers this year. Answers was Googles first service beyond search, and the first Google application to be shuttered.