This is big news. Thanks for flagging it up. Although I find that the numbers are out by a large margin, it is still a useful tool to compare the possible level of traffic from different keywords.

Big news, but not good news. They've become more restrictive over time.

I'm wondering whether they will ultimately restrict keyword suggestions to an existing page.

I'm wondering whether they will ultimately restrict keyword suggestions to an existing page.

Perhaps it depends what is the reason of discontinuing Keywords Tool External. It may be just to collect the names from credit cards to marry the website with a "real person" or to make creating many shallow sites that target variety of keywords a bit harder.

If they do restrict keywords suggestions to a certain page, then a way around this may be to create "special pages" with list of keywords just to see wider range of suggestions.

I don't think they are doing this to make it harder to use. I think they are simply trying to get more people to login into Google to help with tracking, personalization & their Google+ initiative.

^^^ And perhaps "marry it" to a real person as I think you cannot create Adwords account without adding credit card info.

Otherwise they could just make Keywords Tool External only available if a person is signed on.

I think you cannot create Adwords account without adding credit card info.

Unless things have changed recently, I have an account without CC info. The Planner works, except for toggling between Exact, Broad, and Phrase match.

I don't think they are doing this to make it harder to use. I think they are simply trying to get more people to login into Google to help with tracking, personalization & their Google+ initiative.

Or maybe they just want more people to signup for Adwords and spend money. :)

They've cracked down on tools with scrapers that use this data. My 1st thought was that it might be related to that.

Ugh. That's too bad. The keyword tool was a nice one to play around with. Haven't signed into my AdWords account to use their planner. But I guess I'll have to at some point.

and some third parties offering paid keyword research tools are going to have a gr8 time with googlers help....

More discussion on the keywords tool here...

Google Keywords Tool External Now Gone
Aug 27, 2013
http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4605230.htm [webmasterworld.com]

and some third parties offering paid keyword research tools are going to have a gr8 time with googlers help....

...if those third parties can get the data...

Not Provided - Looks like organic keyword data is gone
Sept 23, 2013
http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4612072.htm [webmasterworld.com]