Google is planning to launch an experiment that they plan will make Internet access better and faster for everyone.

Google plan’s to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country. The network will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. The plan is to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

From now until March 26th, Google is asking interested municipalities to provide them with information about their communities through a Request for information (RFI), which will use to determine where to build their network.

Google

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If you don’t know me well enough to know that I really follow and enjoy all the online tools that Google offers. One of my favorite tools that Google provides is Gmail.

In the last few days, Google has released ‘Buzz’ that is integrated within Gmail. I am testing it, and so far I give it a ‘Thumbs Up’

Buzz lets you share updates, photos, links, and pretty much anything else you’d like with your Gmail contacts; it’s an easy way to follow your friends, too. When you click Buzz in your Gmail account, you’ll see the stream of posts from people you’re following, and a box for you to post your updates. Here’s a run-down of the basic functions:

* Post some buzz: Click in the text box next to your name, and share what’s on your mind.
* Comment: if you see something in your stream you’d like to comment on, just click the Comment link under that post. Your comment will appear alongside it, and the author of the post will be notified.
* Like/unlike: If you don’t have something in particular you want to say, but you just happen to like someone’s post, you can click Like. It will show up on that post that you liked it; if you have a change of heart about something you’ve liked, you’ll see an Unlike link; just click it to remove your name.
* Reply by chat: Click this link if you’d like to send a Chat message to the author of an update
* Delete comments: You can delete comments people have posted to your buzz, or comments you’ve posted.
* @replies: Write @ in front of someone’s username as a way of directing your buzz at that person (it will automatically go to their inbox). You can only use @replies with people who are in your contacts, and other followers won’t be able to see the Gmail username.
* Mute: You can mute buzz that appears in your inbox by enabling keyboard shortcuts and pressing the ‘m’ key while you’re reading it. Muting keeps the update from continuing to appear in your inbox as people reply to it.
* Link to: Click the down-arrow to the right of a post, and select Link to this buzz. This allows you to send a link to this content
* Email: Click the down-arrow to the right of a post, and select Email; a new Gmail message will open with the buzz content in the subject and message body.

Google Buzz

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The search giant is upgrading its Gmail program to add social-media tools similar to those found on Facebook. Google will incorporate photo and video sharing within the Gmail application, along with a new tool for status updates.

Google is still far and away the No. 1 most-visited website, with 173 million U.S. visitors in December, according to measurement service ComScore Media Metrix, up 16% from the previous December. But Facebook is close behind.

Facebook was the fourth-most-visited site in December, with 111.8 million visitors, up 105% from the prior year.

The new features, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, could be announced this week. Google has called a press conference for 10 a.m. PST today when it says it’ll be unveiling some product “innovations” in two of its most popular products.

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Google, the world’s most popular search engine, said last week it may pull out of the world’s biggest Internet market by users after reporting it had been hit by a “sophisticated” cyber-attack on its network that resulted in theft of its intellectual property.

The sources, who are familiar with the situation, told Reuters that the attack, which targeted people who have access to specific parts of Google networks, may have been facilitated by people working in Google China’s office.

“We’re not commenting on rumor and speculation. This is an ongoing investigation, and we simply cannot comment on the details,” a Google spokeswoman said.

Reuters

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Google wants to buy, sell electricity in U.S. Google is seeking government authority to buy and sell electricity in the United States, a further expansion of its operations aimed at boosting renewable energy.

Internet search giant Google is seeking government authority to buy and sell electricity in the United States.

In a document filed last month with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and obtained by AFP, Google indicated that its Google Energy unit asked for “market-based rate authority.” Under that authority, “Google Energy will engage in wholesale electric power and energy transactions as a marketer,” the filing said.

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