I don’t know how long ago it was I begged Google to do a version of Comscore that publishers actually could agree with. (Actually, thanks to site search, here’s my plea). Anyway, here’s a Marketwatch/WSJ story that claims it’s on the way:
Google Inc., the dominant player in Internet searches, is planning to unveil a new service that measures Internet usage utilizing data from Web servers, the Wall Street Journal reported late Monday, citing sources who have been briefed on the plan. The new tool, which can be launched as early as Tuesday, is intended to help advertisers find the best places to buy online ads by showing them the Web sites where their target audiences visit, the newspaper said.
Such a tool must be neutral and not bias advertisers toward buying on Google properties or those that have Google ads, which of course is going to be a perceived bias in any case. Such is the price of being Very Big.
Update: Google Ad Planner announced today. Not sure if this is really a Comscore killer. Sounds like a tool to help folks buy Google Ads to me.
OTOH, the markets are punishing Comscore stock…