Google - Things you don't know

[DustylBashirian]

Google is one of the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, but there are still many interesting and little-known things about it. Here are some interesting facts and information about Google:

1. History and Name
- Humble beginnings: Google was founded in September 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin when they were doctoral students at Stanford University.
- Original name: Initially, Google was called "Backrub" because the system examined backlinks to evaluate the importance of websites.
- Name Google: The name "Google" comes from the word "googol", a mathematical term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros, reflecting the company's mission to organize vast amounts of information.

2. Head office
- Googleplex: Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, is called the Googleplex. This is a complex with many amenities such as a gym, swimming pool, volleyball court, and even a small farm.

3. Company culture
- 20% Time: Google is famous for its "20% Time" policy, which encourages employees to spend 20% of their working time developing personal projects they are passionate about. Many famous Google products such as Gmail and Google News come from this policy.
- Free Food: Google provides free food to employees in cafeterias at headquarters, with many culinary options from around the world.

4. Products and Services
- Google Search: Google Search is the world's most popular search engine, with more than 90% global market share. Every second about 70,000 searches are performed on Google.
- Alphabet Inc.: In 2015, Google reorganized into Alphabet Inc., a holding corporation with Google as its largest subsidiary. This allows the company to expand into other areas such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health technology (Verily), and venture capital (GV).

These facts show that Google is not only a leading technology company, but also has a unique culture and a series of exciting initiatives.