《《Google_Inc._Harvard_Business_Case》.pdf

9-910 -- 036 R E VV . F E B R U A R Y 1 22 , 2 0 1 0 B E N J A MM I N E D E L M A N T H O M AA S R . E I S E N M A NN N Gooogle Innc. Gooogle’s missionn is to organize the world’s infnformation andd make it univeersally accessibble and usef ul. — Google’s mission stateement In January 20100, Google lauunched the Neexus One moobile device——an elegant toouch-screen pphone that aadded comprrehensive voiice recognitioon to reducee dependencee on keyboarrd-style text eentry. Since the fall of 20008, Google’s Android opeerating systemm had powerred various mmobile phones. But Google had extendded its role wwith Nexus OOne: Google designed thee phone and planned to sell it directtly to consummers. Was therre any limit too Google’s asppirations? Gooogle, based iin Mountain VView, Califorrnia, had grosss revenues oof $21.2 billionn and an operrating incomme of $5.5 billion in 2008. AAs of year-endd 2008, the coompany had 20,164 emplooyees and cashh and equivvalents of $8.77 billion. (Exhhibit 1 shows Google finanncials from 19999–2008.) Founded in 19999, the company completeed its IPO in August 20044 at $85 per share. Google’s share pricee exceeded $6600 in Januaary 2010, giviing the comppany a $189 bbillion markeet value. Meaanwhile, G enjoyyed a 65.6%% share of alll U.S. searchees in Novemmber 2009; Y, itss closest rivall, had just 177.5%.1 (Exhibbit 2 outliness trends in seearch engine market sharee.) Outside thhe United Staates, Google’ss lead was eeven larger, eexceeding a 90% share of sse