Googlecentric, not UXCentric

In his (righteously thumbs-down) review of the Google toolbar's Autolink, Doc Searls writes,

Google's consumers pay nothing. Google consumers are very much, in this respect, like commercial broadcasting's consumers: powerless. They can't say "I'll take my business elsewhere," because they have no business to take.

Usage, maybe. But not business.

Google is, no doubt, completely revolutionizing the advertising business. But they have a lot of work to do on the other side of the consumer/customer split. They need to start treating consumers as customers. They need to see that markets are not just conversations, but relationships as well.

Google began as a "power to the people," UXCentric tool. But as its financial juggernaut gains speed, Google seems to be losing its focus a bit. Let's hope it's just a momentary aberration.