Global Domination

Google and its Addictive Products

Domination and dependence are words that usually elicit negative emotions, especially on the part of those that feel dominated or find they are hopelessly dependent. But when attached to unique services which you are not mandated to use, it becomes completely irrational to hurl such feelings even when you know you are dominated and dependent. Such is the case with Google. For a company that was non-existent a decade and half ago, its global domination is actually quite impressive. While we barely noticed, the online search and advertising giant has woven its products and services into the fabric of our everyday life. One that happens to be getting more and more hung up in the cloud.

Have you ever tried to be Google free for a week? Well I have, as so many others have and the testimonial is the same; it can be handicapping. Is Google that monopolistic? Absolutely not, almost every service it offers has alternatives elsewhere. But they have gotten really good at being competitive that its users just hopelessly stick around, assured of innovativeness. Excluding few disputable actions, the company has largely made the right strategic decisions.

They are never afraid to push into new frontiers. Its business model seems to support or stake a future in a niche where it has made its money- online ads. Even the loss of its mapping app, Google maps, as the default mapping application on Apple’s iOS, the venture into Android is more than enough compensation.Well that is if you discount the law suits between Apple and Samsung against the Android based Galaxy SIII and Note. Android seems to have evolved into the strongest alternative to iOS in the mobile smart phone market (no wonder Apple is no longer a fan). Meanwhile on a different front, its Chrome web browser has risen in usage above Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) and Mozilla’s Firefox for the first time. One can only wait to see what becomes of Chrome OS, and Google Drive against strong forerunners like Dropbox and recent players like Microsoft’s Skydrive.
Image credits: Google

What is your own story and experiences, do you feel dominated and dependent? We would like to hear them in the comments below.