# Google IO: Google Is the New Microsoft

By [Continuations](https://continuations.com) · 2013-05-16

google

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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](http://investor.google.com/earnings/2013/Q1_google_earnings.html): check. Desire to compete in every large market from [payments](http://googlecommerce.blogspot.com/2013/05/send-money-to-friends-with-gmail-and.html) to [games](http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/15/google-play-game-services/) to [music](http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4333464/google-takes-on-spotify-with-google-play-music-all-access): check. Extending influence from one market into another by [integrating products](http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2013/05/meet-new-google-maps-map-for-every.html) with each other: check.  Abandoning open standars such as [RSS](http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2013/03/end-google-reader) and [XMPP](http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4318830/inside-hangouts-googles-big-fix-for-its-messaging-mess): check. Having another large company in the field [publicly accuse](http://allthingsd.com/20130515/microsofts-anti-google-campaign-gets-a-boost-from-google/) 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](http://continuations.com/post/2857077313/rooting-for-larry-and-the-internet) 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!

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*Originally published on [Continuations](https://continuations.com/google-io-google-is-the-new-microsoft)*