RSSGoogle's founder steps up the rhetoric against Microsoft + Yahoo
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published February 22, 2008, 2:32 PM
The possible creation of a large, controlling entity on the Internet capable of driving traffic through specific routes, is "unnerving" to the founder of the Web's principal destination.
A casual statement to reporters yesterday by Google founder Sergey Brin has many wondering whether his company is preparing itself for legal combat against a possible Microsoft + Yahoo combination, should Microsoft's plan to sway Yahoo shareholders' opinion against that of its board of directors gain traction.
The Associated Press cites Brin as stating yesterday during a press event, "The Internet has evolved from open standards, having a diversity of companies. And when you start to have companies that control the operating system, control the browsers, they really tie up the top Web sites, and can be used to manipulate stuff in various ways. I think that's unnerving."
BetaNews confirmed the AP's citation of Brin's comment yesterday with Google's press office, which also stated the context in which the AP recited the comment -- the Microsoft bid for Yahoo -- was also accurate.
Two days after the Microsoft bid earlier this month, Google chief counsel David Drummond made his company's official views on the subject clear. "Could the acquisition of Yahoo allow Microsoft -- despite its legacy of serious legal and regulatory offenses -- to extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the Internet?" Drummond asked rhetorically. "In addition, Microsoft plus Yahoo equals an overwhelming share of instant messaging and web e-mail accounts. And between them, the two companies operate the two most heavily trafficked portals on the Internet. Could a combination of the two take advantage of a PC software monopoly to unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors' e-mail, IM, and Web-based services? Policymakers around the world need to ask these questions -- and consumers deserve satisfying answers."
Brin made his comment on the same day media analysis firm comScore reported that Google continues to supply about 58.5% of US-based Web searches, with over 6.1 billion queries.
Perhaps when Google removes the search histories from it's servers, it might find some ears to hear their whine. Otherwise the issue is not about ethics.
Instead it is about the revenue generated by the search engines and the lost of market share for Google.
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|There is no monopoly in the internet or OS biz. Within week to months a new player can grab huge market share just by have a better product. This has not happened yet to the OS world or to Google's search. But it will happen and people will change there habits when it does.
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|Google railing against Microsoft? Pot, meet kettle!
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|Yeah I would agree it is kind of silly for Google to be worried when they are in the position they are in. However they do have a point, a company with a history of using their monopoly to do bad should be looked at very carefully. Yahoo isn't exactly a small company with a small user base. Google does have a point, between hotmail and yahoo, they will control a very large majority of free email and im messeging.
That is very true and Google has a good point. They didn't even mention search share, or how that will affect them or hurt them.
While google does have a major share in internet search, most people know its not too difficult to type in a different name in the web browser. yahoo or live or even ask. If google makes a bad change in the way it looks or works, they could lose their customer base in a heart beat.
Os's now that is another matter. Especially when Microsoft's internet explorer is still the dominent web browser. Granted, having msn.com as the default web page hasn't helped them much. Imagine having yahoo's crap integrated throughout the os on their next release. That is what im worried about. Instead of windows messenger, well have yahoo messenger asking you to sign in every 10 seconds.
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|yada yada...only in this modern age does Microsoft alter the very meaning of monopoly with the multitude of competition that surrounds it...and...competes with it. *sigh*
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|Yes like Google isn't a monopoly in search and online publicity in the web..
I have nothing against Google, hey i use it everyday and love it..
But stuff like this makes me hate Google for hypocrisy..
And for me Google right now isn't any better than Microsoft on their tactics to gain share market..
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|Yes like Google isn't a monopoly in search and online publicity in the web..
...because they aren't? (Competition like Yahoo!, MSN Search, and *countless* others ring a bell?)
I actually agree with your opinions, but trying to call Google a monopoly is silly.
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|As is calling MS one.
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