The last couple of weeks have been fill with news of new and renewed strategic search partnerships. First, the Yahoo!/Bing search alliance. Then the Kenexa/Salary.com marriage yesterday morning. Late yesterday, the Taleo/Learn.com acquisition.
Now, this morning, Google Inc. and AOL Inc. announced a five-year renewal and expansion of one of the largest and longest-standing partnerships in Internet history. The global alliance, which has at its core Google’s provision of search services to AOL’s content network and properties, in exchange for a revenue-sharing arrangement between AOL and Google, will be expanded to include mobile search and YouTube.
“Today is another important step in the turnaround of AOL,” said Tim Armstrong, AOL’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “AOL users will be getting a better search and search ads experience from the best search company in the world – Google. After nearly a decade-long partnership in search, we’re looking forward to expanding our global relationship to mobile search and YouTube. All aspects of our partnership will be improved by this deal.”
“We’re excited to deepen our partnership. This agreement combines Google’s expertise in search and advertising with AOL’s strength in online content,” said Eric Schmidt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Google. “It’s particularly exciting to see our relationship expand into video and mobile. These areas are now at the heart of users’ online experiences and at the core of both of our businesses.”
The partnership includes a broad range of features that will improve and expand the products and services offered to consumers. Those that will be of greatest interest to us sourcers include:
- Search Products: Google will provide AOL with additional features and enhancement to its leading Web search products that will improve the consumer search experience across AOL’s network of sites.
- Mobile Search: As AOL renews its focus on mobile apps and content, the companies will work together to expand the alliance to cover mobile search.
- YouTube: AOL and YouTube have agreed to a content partnership that will bring AOL’s video content to YouTube.
- Global Focus: The alliance is international in scope and will provide improved experiences to AOL’s worldwide audience.
John Hollon over at our sister site, TLNT.com, observed after the Taleo/Learn.com acquisition that vendors seem to be moving “toward a broad and integrated talent management platform and away from the “best of breed” approach.” Interesting, because over in the recruiting and HR offices, the message that is going out to job-seekers is the exact opposite – that specialization and skill focus are the order of the day.