One will easily associate three big names with each of the above- Facebook, Google and Microsoft- in that order. And I believe each one is doing a fantastic job in that area. The problem is when they try to invade the other territory. There is a saying in Hindi- "Ek jungle mein ek hi sher reh sakta hain." When translated to English, it means- "There can be only one tiger in a forest".
It has now become very clear that Google has been struggling in the Social networking area. With the failure of Google's Buzz and Wave, the web gurus could only just give a "I-told-you-so" look! Read it somewhere that Google is again planning to build something on the lines of Facebook. And one shouldn't write anymore about the colossal failure of Microsoft on all Web fronts.
I don't understand this. Why diversify into a sector in which there already is a great player and doing great work. For Google, there has been no dearth of revenues from the Search engine and Ads market. Why move into Social Networking, where even if it succeeds (which is not something that I am looking forward to), it will gain only a portion of the market share. I don't believe that Google can't come up with new products for the web and move to unexplored territories or to sectors which does not have great players. Why focus on Social Netwroking?
Well, as far as MS goes... I think they have no other option. With people moving away from the computer and to the web, it has to diversify. But Microsoft is again doing the same things which have already been done. Bing for instance. You come up with Bing when Google already has cent percent market share and is still improving at a fantastic rate. Microsoft is great with Office Suite. If it wants the harness the power of Web and Google, they should start looking at Google docs and do better than that which I believe that they can. Google docs is pretty basic and companies are just starting to use it. The market is still open as compared to SE market. It's as naive as that. Heard that MS Office 2010 comes with a rich Web version- but only if you buy Office Suite. On the one hand, MS wants to gain traction in the web world but not ready to give what Google is giving for free. At least a free basic service with upgradation to Premium should not be a problem to MS :)
But still then, Web is still evolving and evolution can take drastic steps. But, according to me, in all probability the biggies in these areas will remain biggies and that the Web will evolve not by overthrowing them but opening up newer arenas where we will see new players.
4 comments:
hmm...good points.. but there are some other things to be considered too.. google is facing dearth of ads for the first time now..apparently they are gonna put up a bill board up at times square for getting ads.. as for MS... well they are the biggest piracy victim.. you know they are selling Windows at $9 in China!! so need to diversify is due to the crisis they are facing in their fields...as for fb.. well it rox!!
Life without Aim- Yes, it's true that MS needs to diversify. But the diversification should not be in the areas which are already occupied quite well. There is a need to find newer areas. Like Google docs.
And if Google is facing ad-dearth, then I would shudder thinking what state is Bing in then!
the run to create social networking success is not at all random. The main aim is to grasp different set of users to a domain where they can be approachable as customers. Simple example is: count the no of 'Like's of a particular product(say facebook SMS) each day. according to the statistics prepared by them they will engage more or less resource towards the product. There are a lot of instances of this kind starts knocking the business.
Yes, Jyoti has indeed made a very good point here. I think the days when one solution fits all will be gone very soon and customized solutions will be required. There will be a need to identify the various strands within a homogenous looking population of internet users.
Take for example, facebook. Currently everyone uses facebook in a generic way. I think there is a need to develop social networking websites which will target a specific kind of people- let's say SMEs or college going students or freelancers. Like, for instance, we have LinkedIn for professionals. To keep the social networking business alive and going, I think innovations in this field are likely.
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