As Web tollgates rise, is Google next?
Speculation that Google will be next in terms of the pay-for-use trend on the Web, which includes Blogging Network and Zagat a few days ago, in this Wall Street Journal story (subscription required):
New tollgates seem to be popping up everywhere for what was once largely free information and services. It's hard to get a good Internet date anymore without forking out cash. Match.com charges a whopping $25 a month (or $100 a year), yet membership and revenue are skyrocketing. (As an economist would say, love appears inelastic.) Meanwhile, decent free searches of companies' SEC filings are now harder to come by. Many web video clips are no longer free on CNN.com and other sites.
...Earlier this year, the Online Journal asked readers if they would pay for Google, and about half said yes. There was nothing at all scientific about this poll, but we figure Google, as it gets ready to get ready for an initial public offering (it still hasn't officially filed, and has never disclosed financials) must be mulling some sort of fee plan. An article in the London Telegraph focused on Google's news listings as a possible subscription service. That may be a bit premature, though the news services does signal new ways Google might slice and dice its search results and capabilities.