The Google Commodity Problem
August 23, 2010
Fast Company ran an interesting story after the goose headed for the pond this afternoon. “Google’s Success in Facebook Game: Handicapping the Odds” zipped through some familiar observations about Google and its somewhat tardy response to Facebook. One highlight was pointing out that Google’s senior manager for things social and mobile, Vic Gundotra, presented a Math Club rationalization about Google. Fast Company reported:
Former head of Google’s mobile unit, Vic Gundotra, posted a spicy blog message yesterday to note that over 100 million Google users check places on Google maps, lots use Google’s MyLocation feature (that lets you track your position even in the absence of GPS), many people love Latitude on Android–the Google “checkin” and friend-tracker app, as well as Place Pages which adds extra local info to locations in Latitude, such as photos or reviews. In the immediate aftermath of the roll-out of Facebook’s Places application, it’s obvious what Gundotra was trying to do: He was engaging in a little feisty PR along the lines of “But Google lets you do all that stuff already, and millions of folk have been using it for years!”
Very good. The key passage in the write up was, in my opinion, this statement:
But the biggest problem Gundotra inadvertently highlighted is that (with the admitted exception of Android, which is a strong offering that stands alone) Google’s users tend to think of its services as a commodity.
Bingo.
The addled goose’s thoughts after reading the story were:
- The past may not be a predictor of the future. What Google did when it was in happy face mode does not seem to have the same magic now that the company has made some interesting moves with regard to Verizon, Wi-Fi, child care, China, and acquisitions.
- Oracle may rain on Google’s Android parade. The Sun is not shining on Java at the moment.
- Amazon and Apple keep on moving forward. Amazon is doing a good job in cloud computing and Apple is certainly pumping hardware and hooking folks into the iTunes’ ATM.
Can the Math Club ethos triumph? I am not so sure. Even cheerleaders like Leo LaPorte and his band of Twits are singing different tunes of late. Fast Company nailed it: commodity products and services for free. If ads weaken, the Google may be in a frenzied search for new revenue. That will be exciting. After 11 years, the company has essentially one revenue stream. What are the weaknesses of a monoculture? Shoot. I can’t remember. Something about an inability to resist a fungus or blight. Does not matter. Math is math. Just the addled goose’s opinion.
Stephen E Arnold, August 23, 2010
Freebie
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