Question 1 Compare the business models and areas of strength of Apple, Google and Microsoft.
Apple:
- It has the basis of creating a very strong hardware base for the internet future and thus logically they play their role in this battle by laying emphasis on the hardware that facilitates mobile computing.
- Apple has gone into the stance that applications, one of the major earners for tablet and phone manufacturers, should be device restricted.
- For example, one application should be unique to the brand of the device and should be allowed to function in another device from another separate brand.
- They even stopped Google in its plans to allow Google applications to work on Apple products. Thus by doing this Apple is trying to capitalize on their loyal customer base and create a Apple weds Apple scenario.
- Its business model focuses on centralized control of almost all aspects of its hardware and software. It believes smart-phones and tablets should have proprietary standards and be tightly controlled.
- It only allows apps from its App store that have been vetted by the company, to be loaded to its products.
- Apple has a very loyal user base that has steadily grown and most likely will stay with Apple products in the future.
Google :
- Google is the believer in the concept that in the future the devices used to run the applications and other internet options should be a fraction of what they are being charged now and instead the revenues generated should be from the in-app advertisements.
- Google even bought Ad Mob, an application advertisements development company, to work on such a concept. This future, Google and Microsoft have tried their hand at going hardware friendly but they still do not put the same emphasis on the hardware as Apple.
- Its business model has always focused on the Internet and the Web. It began as one of many search engines. It quickly ran away from the pack with its copyrighted Page-Rank search algorithm which returns superior search results for Web users.
- It also has developed extensive online advertising services for businesses of all sizes. Google provides value to the user by using an inexpensive, flexible infrastructure to speed up Web searches and provide its users with a vast array of Web-based services and software tools.
Microsoft :
- Microsoft has laid its bet on the operating system on which the mobile computing devices shall run. Microsoft also has announced plans to develop the hardware for mobile computing, something it has not done so far, and thus has entered into the field of both Google and Apple.
- By integrating the hardware and software deal Microsoft has actually change the dynamics of the whole market. And this can be problem some for Google and Apple as they shall have to change their own perspective and outlook towards the level of competition that they shall have to face in the coming years in mobile computing.
- Its business model originally focused on the desktop computer running the Windows operating system and Office desktop productivity applications.
- The company and its products are staples for businesses and consumers looking to improve their productivity with computer-based tasks. While it is trying to expand its presence on the Internet, it still must try to keep customers bound to the desktop computer.