In sports as in business when you see an opening you best take it before someone else does.
Years ago I wrote that Microsoft was leaving an opening for the operating system space. The industry was begging for a new operating system to help push the innovation at Microsoft. Microsoft got fat off their own success and they ultimately became caught in their own arrogance (which tends to happen to overly successful companies). In the meantime Apple continued to clock them on the desktop up until Windows 7 (not to mention the phone business and now the tablet business). Google finally launched Android, and with Chrome on the way to the desktop things will get even mode divided. ..and Palm launched webOS, which many (including me) say is the best mobile operating system on the market.
What’s the point? One giants own success may lead to their arrogance, which may lead to a bunch of competition, which ultimately leads to better products for consumers.
When a company leaves an opening it’s probably the best way to turn the tables or help plug a sinking ship. In the case of Google, their own aggressive actions at the peak of their success may lead to some major competitive moves that could change their position in the market.
Their View on Net Neutrality
Google and Verizon popped a surprising announcement on their ideas for net neutrality as it pertains to wireless. By doing this they have sparked a massive amount of bad press. Many have said that Google’s motto “Don’t be Evil” seems to be changing to “Let’s be Evil”.
Facebook has now taken the side of the people by standing for net neutrality across all networks. According to Information Week, Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes said in a statement, "Facebook continues to support principles of net neutrality for both landline and wireless networks."
He continued, "Preserving an open Internet that is accessible to innovators -- regardless of their size or wealth -- will promote a vibrant and competitive marketplace where consumers have ultimate control over the content and services delivered through their Internet connections."
It looks to me like Facebook found an opening.
Online Anonymity Gone
In an act of what I believe is media sensationalism, the Huffington Post put out an article on Google’s Eric Schmidt going against online anonymity. Do you want people to record where you surfed and what you’re doing online? Is that not the same as following you around as you go about your day? I tend to think it is. He believes online anonymity can be dangerous which makes sense.. but why is this coming out now? Seems like the media is jumping on the bandwagon of bringing them up and tearing them down.
So depending on how the press turns this it could cause people to get really annoyed at Google. No matter what their intent is I fully expect people to start dumping their favorite search engine in favor of Bing or Yahoo.
So what’s the opening?
Well there are multiple ways to look at it depending on who you are.
I would do whatever it takes to convince HP to invest in an easy to use online mail service that makes it possible to transfer a GMAIL account in its entirety to their better equipped service. Such a company will likely gain thousands and thousands of customers overnight. If there is a company who is making a better than GMAIL online mail service, contact me directly. I'd love to talk.
If I were Microsoft or Yahoo I would make it super easy to transfer everything from archived email, calenders, contacts, and all the preferences over to their mail service. ...or better yet if I were Steve Balmer I'd get the Microsoft team to create a newly branded BING branded mail service that did exactly as listed above -- I believe it could be the start of a major shift in the business of search.
I always believe you should take your opening while the window is wide open. Tell your team to get on it while the getting is hot.
