IN reality, Microsoft's search (it's currently called/branded "Bing", but it's the same as ever) has been a big failure (or Bing failure, unless you're a Microsoft spinner); so much more was spent on "exclusives" and advertising (perhaps billions in the past year alone).
According to Nielsen, both Yahoo and Bing seem to have lost ground to Google heading into the beginning of 2010. It could be a monthly fluctuation. But it could also be perceived as a potential problem for Microsoft, when you consider that November-December timeframe saw the company launch a whole host of new features for its search-engine designed to bring it into more direct competitive alignment with Google.
“It is worth remembering that the only market Google has not conquered yet is China.”Regarding Google in China, there is speculation that Google could be pulling a stunt there to beat Baidu; it could be a business decision. Google is required to serve shareholders, not morals or nations.
Given the circumstances, Baidu will be seen as conspiring with suppression and Google becomes the "brave rebel"; if Google returns later, it will be greeted.
It is worth remembering that the only market Google has not conquered yet is China. Of course, it could be just a speculation, but some people in our IRC channels made it sound rather compelling an analysis. The attacks on Google are most likely genuine, but it's how they respond to them which matters. It smells like political PR. ⬆
Comments
David Gerard
2010-01-14 16:16:16
http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2010/01/researchers-identify-command-servers-behind-google-attack.ars
If that's the case, I'm not surprised Google decided the game of setting up business in China at all was too rigged to bother with.
Roy Schestowitz
2010-01-14 17:14:41
your_friend
2010-01-14 21:15:04
Roy Schestowitz
2010-01-14 22:42:57
Jose_X
2010-01-14 15:02:04
Despite all of this, it's a great idea to pressure Chinese government and to gain admiration and unity of people seeking more freedom in China who perhaps before may not have been as active or as united or motivated.
So maybe Google was lucky. In any case, many companies have not taken this action in the past of standing up to Chinese government (being in a position to do so, of course), but perhaps now more will be willing to do so (Yahoo said yesterday that it backs Google's position).
[And besides the goodwill side of this, Google also appears as a leader and as strong if they end up succeeding. That sort of thing will help their brand at least until they mock it up. We can benefit from this by letting others know that Google uses Linux and lots of open source and does contribute back to an extent. There is no reason Google's brand should rise without a part of their business model and tools not also gaining some of the spotlight.]