It seems that Google has been working on the dreaded "quotes delayed up to 20 minutes" message that everyone gets with their stock quotes. Unless you pay for realtime quotes that is.
In cooperation with the NYSE, SEC, and Netcoalition, they've worked on a proposition put forth by the NYSE to the SEC that would allow for the distribution of last price streaming quotes. If accepted, the filing would allow for the dissemination of real-time quotes to vendors at a flat rate of $100,000 a year. Sounds like a lot, but from what I gathered, it's a bargain compared to real-time quotes now.
What that all means is that sites like Google Finance will be able to provide real-time quotes for free.
source: Official Google Blog
Cross-posted from
A Penny Saved