Smartphones and Search
January 13, 2009
Verizon tapped Microsoft for mobile search. No surprise. Bell head companies have a difficult time understanding that Google has become for the 21st century what AT&T was for the 20th century. The change has taken place over the last 10 years. With Google’s increase in reach and brand, the telcos have drifted in the other direction. Google’s time to fail awaits the company. Based on my research, the GOOG has some salad days, months, and years ahead of it. The force that through the green fuse is a powerful concoction of its technology, business models, and customer base. Mobile devices are the future for certain types of computing functions. The mobile search sector may become a more important battleground than the telcos are willing to admit. Verizon, for example, finds the Microsoft solution ideal for its needs. For the moment let’s look at the data in “Smartphone to Be Primary Worldwide Internet Device by 2020, Experts Predict” here in Telecommunications Industry News.
The point for me in the write up was:
77% of respondents predicted that “the mobile device will be the primary connection tool to the Internet for most people in the world in 2020,” while 64% expected more advanced touchscreen and voice-activated controls in the smartphones of the future.
Let’s assume that this is true. What happens if Google becomes the dominant mobile search system service? Here are three ideas that crossed my mind as I walked the dogs across the park’s verge this rainy morning:
- Verizon may be the odd telco out which can cost it mobile customers. Forced to cut a deal with Google, Google may charge a premium, further burdening the Verizon balance sheet
- Competitors trying to catch Google in Web search must open another front. A two front war with Google may exhaust the competitors’ reserves. Failure in the Web is one thing. That market is maturing. The mobile market is where the action will be, so winning is essential. A loss to Google would strengthen an already strong Googzilla.
- Countries may be forced to prohibit or limit access to Google. If this occurs, Google gets status as a country. Not much chance for underfunded start ups to make much headway without government nurturing and protection.
Let’s assume Google goes out of business. Those Xooglers will just try to build another Google. That might be a positive development.
Stephen Arnold, January 13, 2009
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One Response to “Smartphones and Search”
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What Google has done for the web and the power of being the dominant search brand has ceratainly not been lost on the the mobile search vendors.
There are some incredible innovations in mobile search particular around voice activated search. One such vendor is vlingo where I blogged about it here
http://www.search1x.com/2008/12/21/your-voice-powered-search-options-on-the-iphone/
The fight for mobile search supremency is going to be one hell of a battle that is fought as the vendors also fight it out for mobile platform supremency! Watch this space.