Question: Google vs. the World

[Cardinal]

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Google announces (finally) that their Navigation software will feature turn-by-turn directions and will remain free on Android platforms. In response, Garmin and Tom Tom stocks open today like this:



What's everyone's take on this? How soon will Google get hit with real anti-trust suits? And if so, considering the consumer-friendly business practices and innovation at the Goog, would you be able to make a coherent argument that any sector monopoly by Google actually harms the consumer/market? Let's face it, their products are pretty awesome and always free, so any anti-trust suit would seem to be pretty transparently aimed at protecting other businesses rather than market competition.

In a broader sense, I suppose it's worth considering whether this new internet economy, from which Google's profits are largely derived, has changed the face of business competition. After all, Google's ad revenue is what allows them to develop products and disburse them freely, so their income it not directly tied to their major software products.

Anyway, I don't know more than any other layman about competition law, but would the forced fragmentation of Google be harmful to market advancement in an economy that presents itself as capitalistic in spirit? We're not talking about Wal-mart-esque price gouging here, rather software innovation that is largely beyond their competitor's efforts and a business model that allows these products to be distributed freely. But is that really any different? If Google is monopolizing one or more sectors, can they be a benign one? Does their innovation and pricing stimulate rather than close off market sectors? All are puzzling questions (to me) considering the generally positive feeling most consumers have for Google services.

	Quote:
	Congrats, Google: you’ve finally rolled out a mobile feature that’s got me ooh-ing and ahh-ing. In advance of the Droid launch, Google has publicly dished on its new turn-by-direction service, Google Navigation, which will be available on Android 2.0 mobile devices. It’s currently, of course, in beta—this is Google we’re talking about, after all—but also in typical Google fashion, it’ll be free when it’s released. Based on Google Maps data, Google Navigation is pretty much exactly the kind of turn-by-turn navigation solution that you’d expect Google to develop. In addition to existing Google Maps features like traffic information and satellite views, Google Navigation also mixes in plain English searching, searching by voice, and Street View integration that actually allows you to see what your turns will look like. The real strength of the Navigation features is that it’s backed by Google, which can leverage its search prowess to allow for nifty features such as asking for directions to “the museum with the King Tut exhibit.” It can also easily help you find places to stop along your trip, should you want to pause for some food. The Navigation app can also apparently collect speed and distance information to build a more accurate picture of live traffic, much like the Dash GPS device that Research In Motion acquired.

Google unveils free turn-by-turn directions for Android devices | Phones | iPhone Central | Macworld

Sorry for the wall of text. The Googleplex is near and dear to my heart, so I admit my bias upfront.

[It's On A Slab]

Not sure how that will affect folks in my sector of the market...those who use GPS in the back-country.

I generally use map and compass, but do rely on GPS for backup....calculating distance, and, occasionally, reorienting my bearings when I really don't know where I am.

It is also a little bit of an assurance during a 10 mile crossing in the fog, when you don't see any landmarks on the horizons.

[NYBamaFan]

I am not sure how this represents an anti-trust issue. They are becoming Wal-Mart, not Microsoft...

[Cardinal]

	Quote:	It's On A Slab
	Not sure how that will affect folks in my sector of the market...those who use GPS in the back-country. I generally use map and compass, but do rely on GPS for backup....calculating distance, and, occasionally, reorienting my bearings when I really don't know where I am. It is also a little bit of an assurance during a 10 mile crossing in the fog, when you don't see any landmarks on the horizons.

Everyone knows that GPS only exists in cars, silly!

	Quote:	NYBamaFan
	I am not sure how this represents an anti-trust issue. They are becoming Wal-Mart, not Microsoft...

Like I said, I don't really know any more than the standard layman, but the comparison to Wal-mart doesn't make sense to me given that Wal-mart is a product distributor versus Google and Microsft being product creators. Google is putting their hands in so many cookie jars that I see some antitrust collision to be unavoidable unless current business competition guidelines are changed--some might say "modernized." Heck, they've been blocked from certain business avenues on antitrust grounds before, so it's not a new or irrelevant question.

[It's On A Slab]

	Quote:	Cardinal
	Everyone knows that GPS only exists in cars, silly!

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=252&ra=true

Mine doesn't work well in the car.

But it hasn't failed me yet in some of the most remote places. And if floats, and is waterproof.

[Cardinal]

	Quote:	It's On A Slab
	https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=252&ra=true Mine doesn't work well in the car. But it hasn't failed me yet in some of the most remote places. And if floats, and is waterproof.

Pffsh. You know you'd rather have some swank satellite action on your GPS. And voice recognition while we're at it.

[NYBamaFan]

	Quote:	Cardinal
	... Google is putting their hands in so many cookie jars that I see some antitrust collision to be unavoidable unless current business competition guidelines are changed...

I used Wal-Mart because they have done exactly that - put their hands in every retail "cookie jar". Because they can offer so much in one place at the same time, and because they can leverage their purchases globally, they can defeat their competition by selling more for less. That is Google's game. Be everything to their consumers. Offer them one stop shopping. Get rid of the many bills and offer package deals.

However, it only becomes an anti-trust concern if they establish a strangle-hold monopoly in any single market, which they have not done. Like Wal-Mart, they know that they will get hurt if they kill their competition, so they allow it to live - but barely...