SearchCap: The Day In Search, Dec. 5, 2006

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web:

From Search Engine Land:

• Was Click Fraud Criminal Case Dropped Because Google Didn’t Cooperate? – Via Techmeme, The Vanishing Click-Fraud Case from BusinessWeek covers how alleged click fraud extortion case involving Google AdSense was been dropped apparently because of Google’s unwillingness to share details on how its own systems work:
• Jason Calacanis Keynote Conversation At SES Chicago – I had a great time talking with Jason Calacanis in a keynote conversation at SES Chicago this morning. I’m working on getting the audio file uploaded and will postscript to this when it is ready, plus it will go live on the Daily SearchCast web site. Jason covered how he’s taking a position as "Entrepreneur In Action" with Sequoia Capital, discussed issues about SEO, evil on the internet, spam, paying Digg and other social bookmarking contributors plus agreed to do a word association round with me. I’ve only got a few minutes between sessions, so I’ll point toward coverage spotted via Techmeme.
• Search Marketing Now Webcasts & Search Marketing Expo Conferences Announced - I’m happy to announce that Search Engine Land is now joined by two sister sites: the Search Marketing Now webcast series and the Search Marketing Expo conference. Search Marketing Now has its inaugural webcast on December 19, while Search Marketing Expo will have its first event in Seattle on June 4 & 5th. More information below.
• Google Wants To Enter Africa Market Via Portugal – The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Google is looking to acquire companies in Portugal with aim to reach the African market. Anil Hansjee, head of European corporate development at Google said; "We want to enter Africa, not through fixed-line Internet access but through mobile access. We think it would be easier if we worked with countries that work directly with these nations." Anil added that the Portuguese market is a good test bed for larger markets like Africa.
• Google Tests Showing Quality Score Data To Advertisers – PPC Discussions confirms via Traffick’s interview that Google is really testing displaying some of the quality score values to AdWords advertisers. Rumors started back when PPC Discussions found a DigitalPoint Forums discussion thread mentioning that a particular advertiser was told Google will be testing this. It appears that based on Andrew Goodman’s interview with Nick Fox, that this is indeed going to be tested. FYI – Yahoo already shows quality score factors in Panama to the advertiser. The question all PPC engines live with, is just how much to show to the advertiser.

Search News Headlines From Elsewhere:

• Daily SearchCast, Dec 5, 2006: Special Edition, Conversation With Jason Calacanis, Daily SearchCast
• Yahoo ad sales chief says calls for shakeup overblow, Reuters.com
• Bringing the Next Net to the Mass Market, The Business Innovation Insider
• Ex-AOL exec Pittman named to Spot Runner board, CNN Money
• Yahoo CEO’s Days Numbered?, Red Herring
• SES Day Two Begins With Brunch and Friends, Cre8PC
• Google’s talent may be headed out the door, CNN Money
• Feedster’s New Look and Features Officially Launched, ResourceShelf
• Mobile Web: Seven Wireless Portals and Sites from Seven State Goverments #1, ResourceShelf
• Nationwide Insurance: We will not cover SEO firms, Threadwatch
• Google Adwords To Introduce Predicted Average CPC, PPC Blog
• Pittsburgh Google office opens, The Tartan Online
• Ebay picks former Yahoo CTO as China GM, Reuters
• Google Somewhat Froogle At Holiday Press Party, TechCrunch
• 2006 Top Searches – And What a Year it Was, Yahoo Search Blog
• Did Google "block" a click-fraud criminal prosection, Threadwatch.org
• AOL Officially Announces Updates to My AOL Feed Reader, ResourceShelf
• The Year in Products, Google 2006