Ok I admit it, I am a bona fide tech geek. Part of what I love about being a Tampa real estate agent is that I get to use and implement all sorts of tech gadgets. I get to try out the newest tablets, computers and other hardware that makes my profession easier and ultimately more productive. I also love the internet.
So I was reading an article in my January edition of PCWorld entitled, “Google’s Pay-Per-Article Experiment” by Sarah Jacobsson Purewal. The piece is about Google wanting to begin charging for web content via an initiative called “Google Wallet for Web Content.” Basically it is a micropayment collection service that has been rolled out.
Google is experimenting to see if web users will pay for premium web content ranging from 10-99 cents per article. Google is betting that internet users will pay for content if the payment process is simple. How it will work is that visitors to a particular site will get a preview of an article consisting of several opening paragraphs and the remaining article will only be accessible once payment has been received. A couple of premium content producers have already signed up including tech publisher Peachpit, reference book publisher DK Publishing and Oxford University press as well.
Is this the beginning of the end for the free Internet? Only time will tell. Unless the content is obscure, there will always be alternative sources for information. However will Google attempt to subvert the availability of other content if it has a vested interest in the pay per article game? We will have to wait and see.
Tampa real estate consumers may have to pay to look at homes for sale
As this potential situation relates to Tampa real estate consumers it certainly could be a major game player if the big real estate search sites decide to pick up on the trend and begin charging consumers for how to articles, real estate advice and to actually look at homes that are for sale. I personally hope that this Google initiative is a compete failure. In my opinion Google is beginning to remind me of Big Brother. What do you think? Would you be willing to pay for the privilege of reading articles on the Internet? Let me know your thoughts.
Brad Jenkins BA, Psy-ABS | Florida's Most Trusted Real Estate Professional "TM"
I'm a professional real estate agent with Charles Rutenberg Realty in the New Port Richey and West Pasco County areas of Florida and the publisher of The New Port Richey Real Estate Guy Blog. I tend to drive my Corvette too fast and love everything about real estate and technology. I have a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and in my previous professional life I was a public school teacher and basketball coach.
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