Google Takes on Apple For the People

Apple’s iPhone is the undisputed king of smartphones, but there is a swelling sentiment that Google’s Android platform may steal the crown in the end.  Baron’s

When Apple was the underdog and was having sand kicked in its face, everyone rooted for it. Now that the company is doing some of the kicking – many would like to see the transformed weakling taken down a few notches.  Interestingly, the company that is gathering the most support to deliver Apple its comeuppance is Google and they are leveraging this to the max.

“If we did not act, we faced a draconian future where one man, one phone, one carrier was the future,” he said. “That’s a future we don’t want.”  - from Google’s IO Keynote Address

Don’t like Apple’s app store policies.  We will give you a store with no policies.  Want to view Flash enabled sites on your phone – no problem.  Matter of fact, whatever that big bad Steve Jobs won’t give you – we are here for you.

In my previous life, I worked for a high-tech software company.  It is the “Apple” of its industry.  Every couple of years, a hot start-up would come on to the scene offering a better more flexible product.  Inevitably they would win some key deals and start making noise.  Interestingly, we didn’t buckle to the pressure.  The troops were rallied, innovation was sped up and the threat was taken care of.

The threats weren’t always from start-ups, but they were usual the toughest fights.  The start-ups could go full frontal, while the established companies had to protect their flanks as well.  Although Android appears to be  a frontal attack against Apple, it is far from it.  Google’s lifeblood is advertising – it doesn’t exist without advertising revenue.  Deep down Android is essentially a sophisticated version of its Adword advertising platform.  If the advertising dollars don’t materialize in mobile - Google’s on to its next project.  Look how fast they dumped the Nexus One.

At the D8 Conference, Steve Jobs made a statement that resonated with me.  He said, “All we want to do is make better products.”  Apple is responding  just like we did at my old company when under attack – speed up innovation.  The rest will take care of itself.