Google v/s Microsoft

Posted on February 8, 2008
Filed Under Technology |

When I heard Microsoft has put forth an offer to buy Yahoo at US$ 44 billion, I knew there was something up the sleeve for Google to offer. Google Apps is an online version of the Office products, compete with the Office Suite of Microsoft. So, the logic is very simple - you step on my toe, I step on yours. When Microsoft is trying to compete with Google by offering to buy Yahoo, Google has woken up to this threat. And why not, its a competitive world, the fittest survive and die hard. Google and Microsoft have all kinds of ingredients to stay competitive.

If you notice, Microsoft has always liked to get into any kind of business after some one has entered and tested the waters. And do not confuse this to mean that they are second in the industry, they enter the industry after some one has already struggled, researched and stayed afloat, and later they become second to none. Isn’t that a great strategy ? I read this interview of Bill Gates, where he specifically mentions this strategy - arrive in the game a little later. And Microsoft has done that many a times. Take an example of Windows ‘95, it is what Apple was in ‘89. How about the Desktop PCs, Apple IIe was more popular, but it was Windows which stole the show. Microsoft learns from the mistakes done by its competitors and it has worked very well for them till now. How about now, can it compete against the reach of Google ? It may or may not. Atleast its worth the try. How about Google ? Its definitely ahead in the race in terms of advertising revenue from its online search. It seems that the top 3 in the management, the 2 founders and the CEO have made a formal agreement of not parting ways for the next 20 years. That’s an assurance to the stock market that the trio will stay on together and give the much needed confidence that the market needs, specially in these tumultous days.

Speaking of Google Apps, its a free Office-like Suite of programs. With Microsoft and Yahoo caught in the wranglings of the merger, Google is striking when and where it matter, clawing into the Microsoft turf by launching Google Apps. The technology which works with Microsoft email and business servers came via Google’s acquisition of message company Postini for US$ 625 million. Google is hoping to get the small business accustomed to the Internet supplied email screening. then move into message, calendars and word-processing. The search giant has launched Google Apps Team edition for groups of employees or students to collaborate using a free-suite of message, word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation programs.

A classic case of ‘Winner takes it all’.

Comments

Leave a Reply