Google isn't that dumb

The posts on Jamptap thusfar have been based on the assumption that Google will re-launch its Google Number Search without updating the outdated lexicon that it has used since 2000. But Google isn't that dumb. One only needs to ask why do the ALLNUM and NUM operators work only with words that were around during 2000 or before. Quite simple. Google Number Search was announced as a new search technology in 2000, but quickly dropped from the spotlight of the press by Christmas. What was to become a new search mode for WAP users became a 'discontinued' product in a few short months after Google disabled the updating function for the lexicon of common words for GNS. Did Google do this to throw everyone off? Or did Google simply want to showcase technology rather than actually draw in users? Or was there not enough user demand? Whatever the case, Google allowed access to GNS for use (or experimentation) for a number of years at 466453.com although the lexicon it used was never updated. It appears Google wanted to still draw attention to GNS as a technological invention but wasn't ready to make it 'live.'

As a novice, I had to ask: how is that that GNS uses a different lexicon than normal Google search? The reason for this is that when GNS was launched it was fitted in 2000 with its own lexicon that mirrored the normal Google lexicon at the time. However at some point in late 2000, when demand dried up or whatever the reason, GNS's lexicon was no longer updated. Proof of this is that the present version of GNS incorporates a lexicon of search terms that lacks terms that were introduced after the year 2000, like iTunes or Cingular (the wordnumbers for these brands don't resolve with GNS because these weren't part of our lexicon in 2000). Having said that, GNS search results are the same as regular Google search results. GNS uses the same index servers as normal Google search and thus retrieves search results from freshly stored documents. The unique quality of GNS is that it limits the user to search terms current as of late 2000.

Why hasn't Google taken one of its best technological discoveries to the masses? It appears Google is waiting for the progress of mobile technology and adaption to that technology. My feeling is that NUM and ALLNUM, being new operators that Jamptap stumbled upon, are indicators that GNS will be re-launched and heavily marketed at some time in the near future. Google is readying itself for a launch.

Most of the lessons learned from GNS with an outdated lexicon are still relevant to a GNS with an updated lexicon. For example, if GNS's lexicon is updated less frequently than the normal Google lexicon, then how can a new startup, like Obopay, gain attention in the marketplace; this is assuming most people will access the internet on their cell phones and use number search. More importantly, over time there will be an increasing frequency of competition for wordnumbers such as 222 (abc, bbc) or 3776 (esso, espn). Also, the problem of the dash will remain; T-Mobile will lose on every search to the University of Mobile. Finally, there will be the problem of autostemming and its effect on search engine ranking.

So when GNS is launched (with its updated lexicon), there will still be hurdles to jump through. Google is obviously not unaware of these problems and likely has optimized GNS for re-launch. We'll just have to wait and see.