Fortune: Google Finds a Good Analyst

One of Silicon Valley's favorite parlor games is guessing when Google will go public. Though CEO Eric Schmidt says an IPO isn't imminent (see Tech: Where the Action Is), here's a sign that Google is at least thinking of testing the public waters: It has hired respected former CSFB analyst Lise Buyer, 43, to be what she calls "official lug-nut checker." (Buyer left CSFB in 2000 and has not been implicated in any of the charges against former boss Frank Quattrone.)

I think that they will go public soon so that they can throw more money at developing their advertising offering, specifically expanding Adwords internationally. My money is on October this year.