What is the Google Strategy?
Compelling title to the post, huh? 
Well, I don’t have all the answers, but let me try to put together one piece of the puzzle… (or should that be one piece of one of the puzzles?)
I mentioned in a previous post that I believe there will be an online shift of focus from the browser to the desktop, and that Google will participate in this shift by releasing a desktop suite of products (both operating system and application) to compete directly with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office.
If that’s the case, how does Google’s recent purchase of Writely, a web company that has developed a browser-based word processing application (still in beta) play into this vision? If Google is really looking to move onto the desktop, why acquire more browser-based technologies?
Well, I think that’s the brilliant part of their strategy…focusing not just on the browser or the desktop, but on seamless integration of the two…
Last year, Google formed a partnership with OpenOffice.org, the Sun-developed open-source office-application suite. Imagine being able to create and modify all your documents on your “Google Desktop” using OpenOffice, and then have the ability to modify or share those documents from anywhere in the world using a browser and Writely. A two-pronged approach that provides a seamless document management experience.
Assuming Google’s application technology is even half as robust as the Office suite of tools, with a price point likely somewhere between free and 10% that of the Microsoft product, it is sure to get widespread adoption.
So, now that Google has document creation/editing technologies, all they have left to build is document management and storage capabilities, and they are well on their way to challenging Microsoft in this billion-dollar market. Hmmm, speaking of documentation management and storage capabilities, have you heard the rumors surrounding G-Drive and Lighthouse?
March 10th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
[…] Originally by Jason from The Steinhorn Stare on March 10, 2006, 3:06pm […]
March 11th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Yo Jason… I’m still not convinced. Google hasn’t proved anything other than they have a bunch of talented engineers and tons of money. I takes a lot more than just releasing half-baked products. That’s right… I don’t necessarily like Google products - they’re not necessarily useful and they haven’t really changed the way people do things. I don’t want another stupid desktop tool, web mail account, photo app, etc. I already have 3 IM clients, 3+ email accounts, multiple usernames and passwords, etc, etc. Technology at this point in time hasn’t made my life easier it’s just complicated it. I’m the first one to admit I have a geeky side - I love the gadgets and lure of the “upgrade”. However, as a designer I just don’t see the benefit other than fulfilling the need for business to hum right along. Don’t get me wrong, this is all necessary to drive eventual meaning through truly useful innovations but I see that taking time. We just have to wade through the experiments. But I think this reality is all the more reason to cool our jets and take Google for what it is - a technology company trying to prove itself like everyone else before it - aka Yahoo, Amazon, etc.