My mother used to take me along when she visited an old lady down a cobbled lane who had a crystal ball on her dining room table and a pack of playing cards. My mother was superstitious and really believed a lot of what she was told by old lady. She wanted to know what future held not only for herself but for me, her only little boy. I was about five or six years old at time, and used to gaze at reflected images upon crystal ball of sunlit window behind me and lace curtains, although old lady would place her hands at either side of crystal ball and say that she could see future and told of what she saw, I could only see reflection of that window with lace curtains. The old lady was either a genuine medium or was just guessing what my mother wanted to hear to keep her coming back for more of same, and make herself a small income to supplement her pension.

No matter what numbers say, other search engines namely Yahoo and Microsoft(MSN) are eager to find out what they are. Since secretive Google has been able to hide behind being a private company.

They hope to find clues on what Googles profits are and possibly how much money Google spends on technology for their search engine. All in desire to get their own share of Online Search Market.

It is expected that Google makes more than they say each time someone uses their engine. Indicating that there is possibly plenty of cash for all interested in search engine game. Even if they are smaller players offering 'niche' services.

Yahoo who has approximately 5% of a stake in Google, anticipates that there is plenty of room for both Google and Yahoo to thrive with search engine services.

Larry Page one of Googles founders told Reuters recently that he expects online search to be a "healthy market with many companies".