Google/alphabet

[matt819]

OK, it's probably because I'm not a billionaire, but this whole Google/alphabet thing just strikes me as ridiculous.

My first thought was that it was something out of the Onion. I half expected to read that the use of the alphabet now would generate royalties to the new company, in the same way that there was a spoof some 10 or 15 years ago to the effect that Microsoft had trademarked the letter E.

My next thought, which I think is more likely, is that this is a way for Google/alphabet/whatever to basically avoid taxation. I'm beginning to think that I pay more taxes than multinationals, in terms of percentage of my gross income, which is relatively meager anyway.

I'm sure this is the result of many many months of deliberation and high-priced lawyers and accountants, but this sure does strike me as a New Cole kind of move.

[PoliticAverse]

1. This is one of those stories I would bet money had been an April Fools.

Alphabet's website: https://abc.xyz/

[KamaAina]

5. How on Earth did they get the .xyz top-level domain?!

[PoliticAverse]

6. .xyz became a working top level domain in June of 2014

(see: http://icannwiki.com/.xyz ). This is the first site I've actually seen that uses it.

[Agschmid]

2. Kick

Here is a good link...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/08/10/google_becomes_alphabet_page_brin_form_new_company_pichai_new_google_ceo.html

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Maybe a tax dodge, or a litigation shield

If the parent doesn't "do" anything but holds all the money, and the other companies "do" everything but are basically broke, then it might make lawsuits more difficult to collect on.

Now that Google is putting autonomous vehicles on the road...

[KamaAina]

4. Just like Blackwater changing its name to Xe

and now to something else.

[Moliere]

7. Probably to pump up the value of their stock

By separating the money making parts of the business into one entity and the moonshot money losing parts into another, the Google side can really soar (as if >600 per share is too low)