California, Aug 13: Web search company Google has identified numerous users of its machine that helps companies search their own data in corporate networks and websites. The company, seen by many in financial circles as an ideal candidate for an initial public offering, said pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc., the US Army and the city of San Diego are among the new paying users of Google's enterprise search appliance, which is a hardware and software product. Other customers include Xerox Corp., Hitachi Data Systems, Nextel Communications Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., Discovery Communications, the San Diego Union-Tribune, PBS.org, Cisco Systems Inc. and Boeing Co.

Privately held Google, based in Mountain View, California, launched the machine early last year and had provided little information on customers or sales. The company's long-awaited announcement of several high-profile search appliance users "is public confirmation that they are in fact committed to the (enterprise) space," said Jupiter Research analyst Matthew Berk.

On Tuesday, Google said hundreds of customers are using the machine. It also said a growing customer base contributed to a 200 per cent increase in sales over the last year. Google does not release revenue figures. Among other things, companies use the corporate search machine to find answers to customer questions and to locate brochures and other information needed to make sales, Google said.
While Google is best known for its web search technology, industry sources said the company reaps the lion's share of its revenues from search-related advertising services. Analysts called Google's commitment to corporate searches contrarian, given that the search sector has undergone a major decoupling over the last 12 months. Inktomi Corp., a formerly high-flying search technology company, sold its consumer web search business to Yahoo Inc. and its enterprise search business to Verity Inc. Bureau Report