But how will Google ever make money? There’s the rub. The company’s adamant refusal to use banner or other graphical ads eliminates what is the most lucrative income stream for rival search engines. Although Google does have other revenue sources, such as licensing and text-based advertisements, the privately held company’s business remains limited compared with its competitors’.
- Business Week Article from December 7, 2000: link
I can only imagine the crap sandwhich journalists will be eating in a couple years if Twitter unleashes a revenue model that mirrors even a fraction of Googles’.
You’ve got to hand it to the guys at Twitter. They’ve been nothing but a class act since day one. Their culture is phenomenal. Their vibe is excellent. People are addicted to Twitter–even those that religiously bash the service.
Layoff the skepticism regarding their revenue model… until they fail, if and when that is, heh.