Google Games may be a calm before the storm

With rumors swirling about Google possibly partnering up with  online-gaming company, Zynga, stockholder value may be in jeopardy.

Every recent deal, from energy trading to mobile advertising has put Google on regulators' radars. Anti-trust investigations seem to come with every new venture that Google takes on. Both here and abroad. We think if their growth into other markets continue to be dominant, the government (or EU commission) may rule that it's gotten too big.

So what will be the straw that breaks the camel's back? Will it be another acquisition? Or, will it be Google venturing out on its own?

The answers to these questions are virtually irrelevant. How an anti-trust suit will affect stockholder portfolio, is.  If Google is ever ruled against in a suit of this caliber, stock traders will see an effect similar to when Microsoft was told to sell its assets. While, we don't see this as a problem looming over the company's head. We definitely see it as a near future possibility at the rate Google is growing.

A move into the online gaming field isn't the red flag that investors should be looking for. However, if you look at the last 18 months: you'll see ventures into energy trading, mobile advertising, travel (not to mention in-house location based services as well as operating systems), and now rumors of online gaming. We don't have holdings in Google but we wanted to write an article for those of you that do. Stay alert. Google is a great and innovative company.  However, if it is deemed anti-competitive, investors may change their minds about investing in their stock for the long haul.

Real-time Collaborations

The wave is about to overwhelm the people of the world as Google Wave is opened to the public. This move marks the day that collaboration (professionally and socially) is changed forever.

When Google first debuted the wave communications platform, it was said that it would make all communications between parties more efficient. That goes without saying that two colleagues, on opposite sides of the planet, who can work on a looming project in real time will become increasingly valuable over the next few years.

Today is the day that social becomes closer than it was to being fully integrated both inside and outside of companies, no matter how big. I've used wave to play sudoku and chess with friends. And also to work on a project with a team back home, while I was on vacation in Puerto Rico. This platform is phenomenal and from what I've read about the updates...this Google labs product has gotten even better over the past 9+ months.