Two years ago I wrote a blog post titled “Is Google the New Microsoft?” hedging it with a question mark. I think after the announcements at Google IO there can be very little doubt that Google is the new Microsoft.
Here is a short check list. Dominant position in one market that generates huge profits: check. Desire to compete in every large market from payments to games to music: check. Extending influence from one market into another by integrating products with each other: check. Abandoning open standars such as RSS and XMPP: check. Having another large company in the field publicly accuse you of locking them out: check (and in the what-comes-around-goes-around department: that company happens to be Microsoft).
Now as a shareholder in Google since the IPO I have been very happy with Google’s performance. Yesterday Google’s shares reached a new all time high giving the company a market cap of over $300 billion. And if any of these new initiatives succeed there is more room for growth. On the other hand as someone who cares about the Internet as an open network and invests in startups I can only say: fasten your seat belts – the ride is about to get bumpy!
