Originally posted on February 28, 2007 @ 8:30 am
According to the Washington Post, Google this week held a two-day sales meeting with nearly 200 federal contractors, engineers, agency employees and uniformed military members eager to learn more about Google’s products.
Google has beefed up its sales operations in the Washington, DC, area in the last year in hopes of capturing more business from military, intelligence and civil agencies.
Several government agencies already use an enhanced version of Google Earth. That’s right: Google is going deep into the verticals.
While official numbers aren’t available, the Post reports that Google nearly tripled its business with government agencies from $73,000 USD in 2005 to $312,000 USD in 2006.
So what’s next for Google?
First, you can look for Google to target its products at verticals other than government in the next few months. Many people claim that Google is ready to tackle the health care market. I would agree 100%.
It also looks like Microsoft is ready to battle Google for this space.
Second, you can bet that the online fight for vertical markets between Google and its rivals including Microsoft, Yahoo and lots of smaller vertical publishers and content providers across a number of industries is going to get a lot more intense very soon.
Let’s get ready to RUMBLE! *
* Trademarked catchphrase by Michael Buffer.