In Topeka, Google's April Fools' Day logo changing prank is a hit
So by now, you probably know that Google changed the familiar lettering on its website to 鈥�Topeka鈥� on Thursday.
Topeka, the capital of Kansas, couldn鈥檛 be happier with the online attention. 鈥淲e are flattered by Google鈥檚 gesture, and we hope millions of folks will visit Topeka today,鈥� says David Bevens, the city鈥檚 communications manager.
The Topeka-Google April Fools' Day stunt is all in the name of fun.
But seriously, Topeka is one of hundreds of communities competing to host Google鈥檚 broadband experiment, which is designed to bring super-fast Internet service to residents. Topeka went to great lengths to show Google how much it wants to win the competition: the city council voted 9-0 to change the city's name to Google during the month of March.
Then Google turned the tables and told city officials on Wednesday that it planned to change its own name. At least one person was skeptical.
鈥淢y first reaction was disbelief. We were concerned we were being pranked by a rival city,鈥� says Mr. Bevens.
By Thursday, however, city officials and residents were pumped up. 鈥淚 was thrilled this morning,鈥� says Councilman Bob Archer. 鈥淭his whole thing has been quite a process, and this competition has brought Topeka together more than anything has in years.鈥�
Christina Wilow is a waitress at the Heartland Cafe in town. Although she hasn鈥檛 seen Google鈥檚 stunt yet, she knows how much the whole thing means to her spouse. 鈥淢y husband is a Google freak, and he is very excited,鈥� she says. He鈥檇 love to get a faster Internet connection, she adds.
Located on the Kansas River, Topeka is a major producer of grain and meat, as well as farm equipment. The town of 122,000 is also a big shipping center and home to Washburn University. Topeka would like to have broadband bragging rights.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got an enthusiastic, progressive group here excited to work with Google,鈥� Councilman Archer says.
Make no mistake, though: Google鈥檚 decision to promote Topeka on its site Thursday doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean that the town will be a winner in the competition. Google has said it will make its selection(s) before the end of the year.
But for now, it鈥檚 April Fools鈥� Day. 鈥淲hatever the outcome, the conclusion is clear: we aren鈥檛 in Google anymore,鈥� Google CEO Eric Schmidt wrote on Google鈥檚 official blog.
Topeka Mayor Bill Bunton chimes in, 鈥淲e鈥檙e back to being Topeka鈥� on Thursday. 鈥淣ow there are two Topekas.鈥�
More on the Google Topeka April Fools' Day prank:
Topeka: Google pulls April Fools' prank after Kansas's renaming stunt
In Topeka, Google April Fools' Day prank is a hit
Why does Google say Topeka? Five top corporate pranks for April Fools' Day
