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Today, on September 27, Google celebrates its 25th birthday, a momentous occasion that cannot be ignored. Starting as a humble search engine, Google has become an integral part of our lives and the realm of information. Let’s embark on a brief journey into the past to uncover how it all began and explore key milestones and intriguing facts in the history of this global corporation.
The Birth of Google
The Google story began at Stanford University, where two students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, decided to transform and enhance internet search. Their ambitious project commenced in January 1996. They named it “Backrub” and developed an algorithm for assessing web pages, known as PageRank. This algorithm became the fundamental foundation for the future search engine.
Google’s Birthday
Officially, Google was registered as the domain google.com on September 15, 1997. However, Google’s birthday is often celebrated on September 27, 1998, when Larry Page and Sergey Brin closed their first major financial round, securing $100,000 in investments from angel investors. This marked the beginning of the company’s journey.
The First Doodle and Early Services
The first Doodle that appeared on Google’s homepage was dedicated to the Burning Man festival in 1998. It wasn’t as interactive and animated as modern Doodles, but it opened the door to endless possibilities for creativity and self-expression on the search engine’s homepage.
Google’s first major service was Gmail, launched in April 2004. With its innovative 1-gigabyte capacity, it completely redefined the concept of email storage. This was followed by other services, such as Google Maps, Google Earth, and, of course, the video-sharing platform YouTube, which Google acquired in 2006.
The Moment of Success
Google quickly became one of the world’s leading search engines, and in 2004, the company conducted its initial public offering (IPO). This event brought financial independence and valued the company in the billions.
Over time, Google expanded beyond search and became a technology giant. Today, Google owns a multitude of products and services, including Android, a mobile device operating system, and Chrome, one of the world’s most popular browsers. Google is also actively involved in artificial intelligence and the development of self-driving cars.
Interesting Facts
- Google’s first office was located in a friend’s garage in Menlo Park, California.
- In its early days, Google was known as “Backrub,” but its name was changed to “Google” in 1997, derived from the word “googol,” which signifies a number consisting of one followed by a hundred zeros.
- In 2015, Google created a new company, Alphabet Inc., as a holding company to better organize its diverse projects and subsidiaries.
Twenty-five years later, Google remains one of the most influential and innovative technology giants in the world. Its history is a story of search, innovation, and a commitment to change. Google continues to be one of the most recognizable icons of the modern digital era and remains at the forefront of technological progress. Congratulations to Google on its 25th anniversary, and we look forward to what the future holds for this incredible tech world.
