What Eric Schmidt did this summer

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Karen Wickre, Google Blog Team</span><br /><br />In case you're thinking summer is the time to slow down, that's not always true around here. Our CEO has been on the go on behalf of a number of our public policy initiatives. And our Public Policy blog has been <a href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2007/07/eric-schmidts-summer-of-public-policy.html">keeping up with him</a>.

What Eric Schmidt did this summer

Posted by Karen Wickre, Google Blog Team In case you're thinking summer is the time to slow down, that's not always true around here...

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Earth to the Enterprise

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Matthew Glotzbach, Product Management Director, Google Enterprise</span><br /><br />With more than 200 million downloads and counting, Google Earth is known around the world. Less well-known is our <a href="http://earth.google.com/earth_enterprise.html" title="Google Earth Enterprise">Google Earth Enterprise</a> which companies, organizations and government agencies use to view their global data and imagery. Experts and amateurs alike use it for everything from designing new buildings to exploring for energy to responding to emergencies, because Google Earth Enterprise offers access to geospatial info that was once limited to specialty applications.<br /><br />For instance, check out Dell's implementation showing a geographic view of traffic to Dell.com:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YoIR071ZqCOHm_SWiiifu8ZNv6G8O3CJGM91hLMCh2iYiotVPZ5NAj1C99Tzt94abClzXPSP4np4Uo2s3AhBGKQQA6wXkI8X5nlB7Aa_ex7AO6xnxEEE_R3-wWgaouOppaELyA216Uib/s1600-h/Dell+Earth+Enterprise.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091577964347867586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YoIR071ZqCOHm_SWiiifu8ZNv6G8O3CJGM91hLMCh2iYiotVPZ5NAj1C99Tzt94abClzXPSP4np4Uo2s3AhBGKQQA6wXkI8X5nlB7Aa_ex7AO6xnxEEE_R3-wWgaouOppaELyA216Uib/s320/Dell+Earth+Enterprise.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><br />Today, we're releasing the latest version, which makes it easy to publish and view Google Earth datasets in 2D using a browser. By accessing Google Earth Enterprise from a web browser, employees across an organization will benefit from the rich geographic tapestry. There's <a href="http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2007/07/newest-google-earth-enterprise.html">more detail </a>on the Google Lat/Long blog.

Earth to the Enterprise

Posted by Matthew Glotzbach, Product Management Director, Google Enterprise With more than 200 million downloads and counting, Google Earth ...

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Like making videos? Love Gmail?

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Arielle Reinstein, Product Marketing Manager</span><br /><br />A couple weeks back, some of us on the Gmail team were talking about how simple it's become to connect with people around the world through email. And we got to thinking: what if email was delivered via a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine" title="Rube Goldberg machine">Rube Goldberg machine</a>, but instead of gears and levers, people on everything from bicycles to submarines brought messages from one place to another? So we had a little fun with a collaborative video depicting just that (well, not the submarines).<br /><br />Now it's time to let everyone in on the action. Learn more at our new <a href="http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/help-make-gmail-video.html"><span><u>Gmail Blog</u></span></a><http: com="">, or go directly to <a href="http://mail.google.com/mvideo" title="http://mail.google.com/mvideo">http://mail.google.com/mvideo</a> where you'll find directions on how to submit your clip.<br /><br /><br /><br /></http:>

Like making videos? Love Gmail?

Posted by Arielle Reinstein, Product Marketing Manager A couple weeks back, some of us on the Gmail team were talking about how simple it...

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Calling all SketchUp fans

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Aidan Chopra, SketchUp Product Evangelist</span><br /><br />It's my great pleasure to announce the launch of the <a href="http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/">Official Google SketchUp Blog</a>. Fast-breaking news, tips and tricks, user stories and just the right amount of office intrigue await anyone who pays us a visit. Also, <a href="http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2007/06/theres-something-living-under-our-noses.html">sexy mustache contests</a>.<br /><br />For those of you who have no idea what <a href="http://sketchup.google.com/">SketchUp</a> is, I'll start at the beginning: The world is three-dimensional. Designing a house, building a piece of furniture and navigating through a city all involve three-dimensional decisions. SketchUp is 3D modeling software that anyone can use to build models of whatever they like.<br /><p>Check out the <a href="http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse">3D Warehouse</a> to see models from people all over the world, and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sketchupblog/DenverInGoogleEarth/photo#5088327958889867554">turn on the 3D Warehouse layer</a> in Google Earth to explore cities with realistic 3D buildings made in SketchUp (<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sketchupblog/DenverInGoogleEarth">Denver</a> is particularly impressive). If you like, you can <a href="http://sketchup.google.com/download.html">download the free version</a> and start building models yourself.

Calling all SketchUp fans

Posted by Aidan Chopra, SketchUp Product Evangelist It's my great pleasure to announce the launch of the Official Google SketchUp Blog ....

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Our commitment to open broadband platforms

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Chris Sacca, Head of Special Initiatives</span><br /><br />For several years now, many Googlers have been working to identify<span class="q"> the obstacles that prevent the Internet from being available to</span> everyone on the planet. It strikes us as unfair that some people<span class="q"> should enjoy such abundant access to this rich resource while billions</span> of others aren't so lucky. Though the technology exists today to provide access on a global scale, often we have learned technology isn't the problem. In this context, we have worked hard to advance a set of principles that will make Internet access for all a priority.<br /><br />For instance, we wrote <a href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2007/07/promise-of-open-platforms-in-upcoming.html" title="last week">last week</a> on our Public Policy Blog about Google's interest in promoting competition in the broadband market here in the U.S., to help ensure that as many Americans as possible can access the Internet. However, it takes more than just ideas and rhetoric if you want to help bring the Internet to everyone.<br /><br />So today, we're putting consumers' interests first, and putting our money where our principles are -- to the tune of $4.6 billion. Let me explain.<br /><br />In the U.S., wireless spectrum for mobile phones and data is controlled by a small group of companies, leaving consumers with very few service providers from which to choose. With that in mind, last week, as the federal government prepares for what is arguably its most significant auction of wireless spectrum in history, we <a href="http://services.google.com/blog_resources/ex_part_via_efiling.pdf" title="urged">urged</a> the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules to make sure that regardless of who wins the spectrum at auction, consumers' interests are the top priority. Specifically, we encouraged the FCC to require the adoption of four types of "open" platforms as part of the auction:<br /><ul><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Open applications</span>: consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire;<br /> </li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Open devices</span>: consumers should be able to utilize their handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer;<br /> </li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Open services</span>: third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and<br /> </li><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Open networks</span>: third parties (like Internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee's wireless network.<br /> </li></ul>As <a href="http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1104" title="numerous public interest organizations">numerous public interest organizations</a> noted earlier this week, all four of these conditions adopted together would promote a spirit of openness, and could spur additional forms of competition from web-based entities, such as software applications providers, content providers, handset makers, and ISPs. The big winners? Consumers. As choices increase, prices come down and more Americans have access to the Net.<br /><br />The FCC is currently considering draft rules for the auction, and the reports we've heard are that those rules include some -- but not all four -- of the openness conditions that we and consumer groups support. While any embrace of open platforms is welcome, only if the FCC adopts all four principles will we see the genuinely competitive marketplace that Americans deserve. In particular, guaranteeing open services and open networks would ensure that entrepreneurs starting new networks and services will have a fair shot at success, in turn giving consumers a wider choice of broadband providers.<br /><br />There are some who have claimed that embracing these principles and putting American consumers first might somehow devalue this spectrum. As much as we don't believe this to be the case, actions speak louder than words. That's why our CEO Eric Schmidt today sent a <a href="http://services.google.com/blog_resources/Google_Ex_Parte_Letter_Signed.pdf" title="letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin">letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin</a>, saying that, should the FCC adopt all four license conditions requested above, Google intends to commit at least $4.6 billion to bidding for spectrum in the upcoming 700 Mhz auction.<br /><br />Why $4.6 billion? While we think that a robust and competitive auction based on these four principles will likely produce much higher bids, and we are eager to see a diverse set of bidders competing, $4.6 billion is the reserve price that FCC has proposed for the auction. With any concerns about revenue to the U.S. Treasury being satisfied, we hope the FCC can return its attention to adopting openness principles for the benefit of consumers.<br /><br />In the meantime, thank you to those who have reached out to help with our efforts. It feels good to see how many of you support true competition for the benefit of consumers and we look forward to hearing from even more of you in the days to come.<br /><br />For now, and for all of us, the issue is simple: this is one of the best opportunities we will have to bring the Internet to all Americans. Let's seize that opportunity.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Note: We've cross-posted this to our <a href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/">Public Policy Blog</a>.</span>

Our commitment to open broadband platforms

Posted by Chris Sacca, Head of Special Initiatives For several years now, many Googlers have been working to identify the obstacles that pr...

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Your Campus in 3D winners announced

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Allyson McDuffie, Education Program Development</span><br /><br />The results are in for the winners of the Build Your Campus in 3D Competition, which we <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/show-us-your-university-campus-in-3d.html">announced</a> in January. The <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sketchupblog/SketchUpBlogImagesJuly2007/photo#5088383789169748306">judges</a> chose 7 teams from among the dozens who submitted more than 4,000 buildings from <a href="http://contest.sketchup.com/schools.php">colleges and universities</a> all over North America. And the winning school teams who will be joining us in Mountain View are:<br /><br /><a href="http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/index.php">University of Minnesota</a> | Twin Cities, Minnesota<br /><a href="http://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a> | West Lafayette, Indiana<br /><a href="http://www.concordia.ca/">Concordia University</a>, Montreal, Quebec<br /><a href="http://www.ipfw.edu/">Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne</a> | Fort Wayne, Indiana<br /><a href="http://www.olin.edu/off.asp">Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering</a> | Needham, Massachusetts<br /><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> | Hanover, New Hampshire<br /><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> | Stanford, California<br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://contest.sketchup.com/">competition site</a> to see more details about the judges, the rules, the winners, and what they won. From there, you can follow a link to see the winning campuses in your copy of Google Earth. Again, congrats to the winning teams, and a big thank you to everyone who participated.

Your Campus in 3D winners announced

Posted by Allyson McDuffie, Education Program Development The results are in for the winners of the Build Your Campus in 3D Competition, whi...

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Opening up Google Print Ads

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Andrew Chang, Product Marketing Manager, Google Print Ads</span><br /><br />Even with the growth of online news sites, Americans still read newspapers. Over the course of a typical week, nearly 3 out of 4 adults (115 million) in the top 50 markets read a copy of a daily or Sunday newspaper.* That's why thousands of businesses use print advertising every day to reach a local audience, and why we've <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/pressrel/20070718_printads.html">announced</a> that we're extending Google AdWords to newspapers for most U.S. advertisers. To learn more, visit the <a href="http://www.google.com/adwords/printads/#utm_source=awblog&utm_medium=0718_link%20">Google Print Ads</a>™ site, or read about it on the <a href="http://adwords.blogspot.com/2007/07/google-print-ads-now-available-to.html">Inside AdWords blog</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Scarborough Research USA, Release 2, 2006.</span></span></span>

Opening up Google Print Ads

Posted by Andrew Chang, Product Marketing Manager, Google Print Ads Even with the growth of online news sites, Americans still read newspap...

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