Google preparing for full roll-out?

Google shuffles around some more DNS records et voilá:

• mail.google.com now resolves to a Google-owned IP (one of the cpt01s01 series)
• mt.google.com now resolves to a Google-owned IP (as above, so below)

Was the hosting of the Google Maps tiles on the [presumed] GGC caching box just a fig-leaf, a ploy for respectability? Since only YouTube access still seems to be directed towards those caching boxen, perhaps that traffic was a quite-substantial chunk of the original Google traffic to TENET's network, the rest of which is now easily handled by the local peering arrangement.

It might allow easier filtering or shaping for the IT/ICTS departments so inclined, but why else keep the YouTube traffic on those boxes? Google's purported 'boxenertia'?

However, seeing that GMail is now locally hosted, that means the major services are being served from local machines. Perhaps this means Google is getting ready for a full-bore load test, in preparation for a proper roll-out?

Google resolving locally

When resolving www.google.co.za from within TENET IP space, one now receives A records indicating TENET IP addresses.

There are still some holdouts - kh.google.com / mwx.google.com and mail.google.com still resolve to normal Google IP addresses. Perhaps they'll transition soon.

Google local delays

So now SM of Google SA is promising better SA-local access to Google services by the end of 2008. Only a year after they promised it the last time:

[via mybroadband.co.za]

Masie said that by the end of 2008 services such as Google Search, Google Maps and Youtube would work a lot faster, better and quicker in South Africa.

Google SA have been quite coy in announcing anything about their local datacenter plans. Is this to avoid tipping their hand? Perhaps they'll extend their GGC 'CDN' to South Africa. This might be the best way to dip their toe in the waters and gauge local usage and interest, especially once mid-2009 rolls around and Seacom's better pricing comes online.