I have said the Google and Facebook are advertising companies. So is Groupon. Sure they have smart engineers and they build internet enabled tools, but they get paid by their clients for delivering advertising that works. They are advertising companies. These companies are not internet companies any more than General Electric is an electricity company.
Whether or not you think Andrew Mason was crazy for turning down six billion dollars (like I do) you have to respect the guy for building a business that is adding 3 million subscribers a week.
Here is a great video of his interview last week with Charlie Rose. Clearly a smart guy. And also very funny. Check it out here.