Google: A Glimpse of 2009’s Tactics
November 26, 2008
CNet’s Tom Krazit wrote “Google Admists Breaking App Store Rules.” You can read the full text of this article here. My thought was that only those in the know would understand that “App Store” meant Apple and its fuzzy wuzzy policies regarding what’s in and what’s out on the iPod software store. I also considered the idea that the notion of Google “breaking” one or two “rules” would be ignored. Big companies often do what’s best for themselves, not doing what upholds a Platonic ideal of “good” for others. For me, the most interesting comment in the story was:
A Google spokesman confirmed Tuesday that Google Mobile uses undocumented APIs (application programming interfaces) in order to use the iPhone’s proximity sensor to prompt a verbal search. iPhone developers were only supposed to use the APIs that Apple published in its SDK when they create their applications under the terms of that agreement.
However, as an idle and addled goose, I did more thinking about this Apple-Google connivance. Here are my thoughts. Please, keep in mind that I am expressing an opinion. Hopefully making this statement will spare me the sugary emails that Google’s brilliant PR minds fire at me like cotton candy missiles from the sorority or fraternity house second story windows during a toga party. To wit:
Google is going to throw its weight around and companies–even mountain top opeations like Apple on Infinity Drive–will go along to get along. In fact, I am considering 2009 the year that Googzilla gets into the Mixed Martial Arts’ ring with some other, more cantakerous combatants. Fighters in the featherweight division will want to steer clear of the heavyweight fights that are now almost guaranteed.
Why is the GOOG getting more physical? Three reasons:
- I think the GOOG’s cash flow, while still good, is flattening. Google’s own math gurus don’t need to do much pencil sharpening to figure out that the financial downturn is going to make getting braces put on Googzilla’s children a trivial expense. The GOOG is going to tighten its belt and fight to generate revenue.
- The competition is exposing its neck and liver to killer blows. In my opinion, Google’s competition is getting weaker, not stronger. There’s Yahoo. I don’t think that company is much of a threat for the foreseeable future. There’s Microsoft which is again distracted with legal hassles, many products, and the curse of the Wii, the Zune, and Microsoft Fast tie up. There’s the evil Hulu, but video is a black hole of cost. In the search and content processing sector, the GOOG is hugely disruptive. Even though competitors are making sales, Google continues to seep into organizations with Maps, Apps, and Gmail without much organization or direction. Therefore, a big of muscle might just make it possible for the GOOG to get more revenue quickly.
- Regulators are clueless. Google continues to do what it wants because people are just darned happy to have a Googler give them a flashing lapel pin, a T shirt, lunch at the Google headquarters, or one of those candy colored mouse pads. People fawn over Googzilla, overlooking the fangs, the claws, and the really bad predator breath. I am still surprised that the GOOG doesn’t sell its own brand of mints.
To sum up, Mr. Krazit’s story evoked these thoughts, which will sail right over the Webby world in which we live. This goose sees the future behavior of Google in this tiny, trivial, single Google judo chop to Apple’s policies. Are you exposing a vital part to the GOOG? A good defence may be the best offense in 2009.
Stephen Arnold, November 26, 2008
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3 Responses to “Google: A Glimpse of 2009’s Tactics”
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Interesting comments Stephen. I must say that I agree with your view. Whilst breaking some iPhone API can hardly be viewed as being evil which is against the core value of google. It just might be the sign of things to come.
[…] Google: A Glimpse of 2009’s Tactics […]
I agree that regulators don’t have a clue what’s going on. We have no more privacy, but we do have nice Gmail themes we can be happy about 🙂