Trouble overseas
If you haven’t been following the charges against Google lately, here’s the breakdown: Google has more or less incentivized its own apps and services, leading to companies’ reluctant incorporation of said apps and services strictly for convenience’s sake. This has led to Google basically owning the market, as its competitors’ products fall short due to issues regarding compatibility or, again, convenience. It’s also led to their being slapped with an anti-trust lawsuit in Europe.
Google is everywhere
So what’s the problem? The main concern here is that Google’s statement regarding Android’s availability to everyone–even competitors–seems to be falling flat on its face, since Android is serving as a way to promote Google’s already-extensive services even more. Worse, Google as a dominant company appears to be abusing its power thereof, making it very difficult for anyone else to get a handhold in the market.
Begrudging respect
It’s easy to see Google as the aggressor in this situation–partially because it IS the aggressor–but try to see it from their perspective as a strictly-business endeavor. Yes, Google used its already-prevalent technology to solicit further use of that technology, and yes, this solicitation pretty much closed the door on future rebuttals by competitors–but isn’t that just good business practice?
Consider an alternative scenario in which a small business uses these tactics to effectively eliminate its competition, even on a small scale. It would be celebrated as a success, of course! Hell, most large brands have been built off of this methodology. For once, Google isn’t doing anything new here–it’s just a matter of routine.
All hail
What this all comes down to is Google’s status as a global superpower. A fair amount of concern is being directed toward a single case in Europe when that concern should really be focused on the fact that Google is rapidly approaching monopoly status; using press time to dial in on their business model regarding Android technology when that same technology holds over 80 percent of the global market is a bit of an exercise in futility.
Watch and learn
I’m not going to say that Google’s actions are admirable–they’ve crushed plenty of small businesses and endeavors, and will likely continue to do so–but observing and correctly applying their business strategy on a microcosmic scale will absolutely result in unprecedented success. They deserve a round of applause, even if it’s a really slow clap.
