“Make no mistake: Google still has plenty going for it,” Goldman writes. “On any given day, 63 percent of the world’s searches are done on Google. That’s a staggering stat. But that’s where Google’s story still begins and ends, even after so many attempts at generating new revenue from other streams.”
“I liken Google to a kind of trust-fund baby for tech: The company got mega bucks at a very early age, and ever since it has been trying to come up with creative ways to spend it, and far-flung business ventures to make even more,” Goldman writes. “Remember that Google spent over $1 billion on its YouTube acquisition, but even after all these years, the deal still isn’t generating any material profits.”
“Google is indeed at a crossroads,” Goldman writes. “The company gets major kudos for investing heavily in research in development; having lived in and covered the Silicon Valley for the past 20 years, I happen to love Google’s throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks approach to innovation.”
Goldman writes, “But Google also has to tread carefully and keep its swagger under control. It’s bitter break-up with Apple is a classic example of Google’s heavy hand and what might have been behind-the-scenes duplicity (oh, no way, we’re going to compete with you. Oh wait, we’re competing with you!) That cost Google what could have been a great corporate partnership and cost CEO Eric Schmidt his friendship with Steve Jobs.”
There’s much more in the full article – recommended – here.
Google is born with a silver spoon in its mouth. As with all pampered adolescents, Google is spoilt. It does not treasured things with great pride because anything it wants can be bought with money without any effort. If it wants anything it will just seize it for free first without asking. Look at its trouble with its street-view project in Europe, especially the Germans; its attempt at unauthorized scanning and copying of books and privacy issues.
Google is in a hurry. It is trying to run first without learning how to walk properly. It is rash and impatient and wants to acquire everything fast without considering the consequences of its actions. It has not seen more moons and stars like what Microsoft or Apple have seen, and it does not have the experience of avoiding the pitfalls of life. It is arrogant and swaggering and tends to step on many powerful toes all at once. This is the Greek tragedy of Google.