Recently brought to my attention was the vast number of fresh developments taking prominence in all sectors of the Net - and at the hands of who else but Google? There has been a significant increase in the use of Google's services to specifically address how businesses are handling exposure and client access.

The first feature that my eyes encountered was Google's Search Appliance - not to be confused with Google's own site-situated search bar that we all know and love. While the Search Appliance is still a tool powered by Google, it's dedicated to a particular site rather than to the entire vast pool known as the Web. The Google Search Appliance is a business incorporated software product that provides company sites with the same, full-fledged search power that Google holds on its own site - broadening user access immensely, and in short, boosting any business.

You'll see just what I mean if you visit thebestof.co.uk, one of the countless websites currently employing the Search Appliance. If you click on the 'what this means' link under Google's logo, you'll get a basic design of the Search Appliance, as well as a statement of just how confident Google is that the tool will achieve results. The Search Appliance has essentially indexed all of the pages on 'the best of' site and uses Google technology to serve up results from the site when someone types a query into the search bar.

If you compare this to an 'average' Google search on a different site, you'll notice a striking difference. Take mobiledia.com for example; the site uses a standard Google search bar and provides an excellent background for comparison to the benefits of the new Search Appliance.

Searches return pages that have Google advertising and, even though related searches terms are rich throughout the site, the results are not always relevant. Reasons for this could include pages not being cached, or simply that Google doesn't rate the potential pages very well for that particular key term. But whatever the reason, it's clear that the new Google Search Appliance would be a huge asset to the site.

A second Google feature which caught my eye is one that incorporates Google maps on medium-sized business websites. If you look at the Haig's Hotel listing in Solihull's division of 'the best of' website, you'll notice a 'map' button which will direct you to the precise location of this hotel with a Google map. This mapping function is a powerful tool for any business, easily drawing clients - and therefore, business. It's a feature that makes the site look a lot more professional, and a development that's appealing not only to the business itself, but to all users of the website.

These new features are excellent tools for companies of all sizes simply because optimised information access for users means more beneficial business for companies. The only downside one might dabble in is the fact that applications such as this will only place more power and control in the hands of the already high-and-mighty Google. My personal response to this interjection is that Google is high-and-mighty for a reason. With the development of exceptional tools like this, in addition to others like Google Earth and Google Video, the prominent search engine rightfully deserves all the acclaim and power headed its way.

About the author:
Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh cricket club.