An interesting change of strategy?
It’s been talked about for some weeks, but finally Google have made their announcement launching their new baby, the Nexus One smartphone. Once more, the comments have centred around “…it’s an iPhone killer”, “…it’s another step forward for Google’s Android Operating System” and alike. For the geeks amongst us, the device seems competent, with a number of unique features and smart functions – it even looks good.
Engadget have a really good review which can be read here
But what interests me more is the way that Google has seemingly changed their strategy. Back in the nineties, when working for a product provider, there was some quite considerable nervousness about the dominance of Microsoft and the potential for them to enter into our core market and, using their consumer muscle, skew the distribution of financial services products – even software solutions like Microsoft Money were seen as a threat to the IFA sector by providing some degree of advice to clients – especially as, at the time, Microsoft Money was distributed free of charge with all new Windows PCs.
The official Microsoft line was that they were not interested in developing distribution of financial services products and their only interest was in providing enabling technologies to key industries – as time would tell, in the main that has happened – the role of Microsoft Money (now obsolete) and it’s web counterpart now called MSN Money has changed and its impact dissipated.
Now I think competition is good – in the mobile ‘phone space, Microsoft has been producing its mobile operating system for some years – it’s a bit of a ‘Marmite’ solution – some love it, some hate it. What they never did was to manufacture the hardware itself. The strategy was to nuture mainstream manufacturers, eg HTC, Hewlett Packard etc, to adopt their solution and for Microsoft to be an enabler.
Google however, seem to be on a mission – it is clear they have their sights set on core markets that have been controlled mainly by the Redmond machine (in the computing space) – web-centric cloud-based, services, new mobile operating systems, intelligent mapping, email etc. etc. spews out of Google – they are changing attitudes and causing significant disturbance. What has yet to be seen is the impact of competing directly with the manufacturers who used to be partners – it could be a stroke of genius or quite a rocky road.
Written by Nigel Smith - Visit Website