How Globalization Handed One Blogger a Big Scoop

Philipp Lenssen has long been one of my favorite bloggers. He co-authors one of the best blogs on Google, which is also one of my obsessions. Today he scored a big scoop. Google's long awaited web browser is launching tomorrow. If you're reading this Tuesday or later, the browser is here.

So how did this happen? This is just my analysis. I haven't confirmed with Philipp (who I have known for years). But I suspect globalization is totally to blame.

You see, Philipp blogs out of Germany, where there was mail service today. So a comic book tease from Google that probably every big US tech blogger is going to receive tomorrow once the US Post Office re-opens, was in Philipp's mailbox today. Oops.

I would not be surprised if there are Google media embargoes that will lift tonight at midnight. (For an explanation for how these work read this great post.) In fact, Philipp's blog post has prompted Google to basically go ahead release the news via its blog today even though it's a holiday and a very busy news day with a hurricane bearing down on New Orleans and the GOP convention about to start.

The lesson here is that it's a global playing field. That can work to a public relations professional's advantage or disadvantage but you need to always keep it in mind. The world truly is flat.