The History of Google

Larry Page and Sergey Brin meet

Apr 25, 1995

Larry Page, 22, had just graduated from the University of Michigan. Page went to Stanford to visit the school and decide about going there. Brin, 21, was assigned to show him around the campus. According to several, they "disagree about almost everything during this first meeting."

Page and Brin begin working on BackRub

Apr 25, 1996

Now graduates in computer sciences, the two began working on a search engine called BackRub. BackRub operates on Stanford servers for more than a year and eventually takes up too much bandwidth to suit the university's needs.

BackRub is changed to Google

Apr 25, 1997

Brin and Page decide the search engine needs a new name. They decide on Google. Google is decided as a play off of the number googol, a mathematical term for the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros.

"Google" receives $100,000

Aug 25, 1998

Andy Bechtolsheim gives the non-existant company called Google a check for $100,000. Andy Bechtolsheim is the co-founder of Sun.

Google sets up workspace

Sep 25, 1998

Google sets up camp in Susan Wojcicki’s garage. Google files for incorporation in California on September 4. Soon after their application, Brin and Page open a bank account in the company's name. After their account was set up, they deposited Bechtolsheim’s check. Larry and Sergey hire Craig Silverstein as their first employee.

Google outgrows garage office

Feb 25, 1999

Google outgrows garage office and move to a new location at 165 University Avenue in Palo Alto with only eight employees.

First non-engineering hire

May 26, 1999

Omid Kordestani joins to run sales. He is the first non-engineering hire.

First Press Release

Jun 26, 1999

Google’s first press release announces a $25 million round from Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins; John Doerr and Michael Moritz join the board.

10 Languages are added

May 26, 2000

The first 10 language versions of Google.com are released: French, German, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian and Danish.

Partnership with Yahoo!

Jun 26, 2000

Google form a partnership with Yahoo! to become their default search provider.
Google announce the first billion-URL index and therefore Google becomes the world’s largest search engine.

Google reaches 15 languages

Sep 26, 2000

Google start offering search in Chinese, Japanese and Korean, bringing Google’s total number of supported languages to 15.

Google AdWords Launches

Oct 26, 2000

Google AdWords launches with 350 customers. The self-service ad program promises online activation with a credit card, keyword targeting and performance feedback.

Schmidt becomes Chairman

Mar 26, 2001

Eric Schmidt is named chairman of the board of directors.
Google.com is available in 26 languages.

First international office

Aug 26, 2001

Google opens Google’s first international office, in Tokyo.
Eric Schmidt becomes Google’s CEO. Larry and Sergey are named presidents of products and technology

Google adds "Klingon" as a language

Feb 26, 2002

Klingon becomes one of 72 language interfaces.

Partnership with AOL

May 26, 2002

Google announces a major partnership with AOL to offer Google search and sponsored links to 34 million customers using CompuServe, Netscape and AOL.com.
Google releases Google Labs

Google gets Blogger

Feb 26, 2003

Google acquires Pyra Labs, the creators of Blogger.

Google grows to 100 domains

Sep 26, 2003

There are more than 100 Google domains.

Office in Dublin opens

Oct 26, 2004

Google formally opens office in Dublin
Google SMS launches
Google acquires Keyhole, a digital mapping company whose technology will later become Google Earth.

Google releases Urchin

Nov 26, 2005

Google releases Google Analytics, formerly known as Urchin, for measuring the impact of websites and marketing campaigns.

Mobile access gains languages

Jun 26, 2006

Gmail, Google News and iGoogle become available on mobile phones in eight more languages besides English: French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Chinese and Turkish.

Google obtains YouTube

Oct 26, 2006

Google announces their acquisition of YouTube.

Google Translate adds 10 languages

May 26, 2008

Google Translate adds 10 more languages, bringing the total to 23.

Google Chrome is announced

Sep 26, 2008

Word gets out about Chrome a bit ahead of schedule when the comic book that introduces Google’s new open source browser is released earlier than planned on September 1. The browser officially becomes available for worldwide download a day later.

Google announces hopes for OS

Jul 26, 2009

Google announces that Google is developing the Google Chrome OS, an open source, lightweight operating system initially targeted at netbooks.

Google obtains Picnik

Mar 26, 2010

Google acquires Picnik, a site enabling you to edit your photos in the cloud, without leaving your browser.

Larry Page becomes CEO

Jan 26, 2011

Google announces that co-founder Larry Page will become CEO in April 2011. Eric Schmidt will be Executive Chairman.

Google redesigns YouTube

Dec 26, 2011

YouTube has a new look, complete with a redesigned homepage and simpler and customizable Channels.

Google is recognized for environmental management

Jan 26, 2012

Google is the first major Internet services company to have all of their U.S. owned and operated data centers receive ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification, high standards for environmental management and workforce safety.