Last time I saw Google doing something weird of this sort, when they aggressively launched their SMS Search Service and published it in print media. It was obvious then! But then will you justify this under obvious category?

Recently in Nagpur Times (Times of India Local Supplement), Google had published quarter page advertisement of its 'Search' engine. The advertisement has message 'Take off to exciting destinations. Keep your airfare on ground' and asked readers to use Google search to find cheap airfare on Internet. It has screen shot of search page with query 'Cheap tickets Goa’. Isn't it surprising?

Of course! Someone spotted it in Nagpur times & hurriedly twitted about it on twitter. The same advertisement also appeared in Ahmedabad Times, again local supplement of Times of India for Ahmedabad city. But here it has different tag line to use its search services, 'How to remove the excess weight from your airfare' with screen shot of search page with query 'Cheap tickets Kerala’.

What does it mean? Does it mean Google is in danger of losing monopoly of search after launch of Bing by Microsoft? Or Google wants to reach more audience in tier-II cities in India? Or they are just simple advertisements? Whatever it could be, it simply shows that despite conquering more than 60% search market on Internet, there is always more room to grow. Printing an advertisement may have raised few eyebrows but there is nothing odd in it. Google might want to try something different and printing an advertisement of its search engine could pave new ways for getting few more users on board for Internet Giant. After all, Internet penetration in tier-II cities in India is still very low and print media is one of the best options to reach out people! Smart move Google!