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The search engine giant and its interminable battles

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From ad business to mobile payments, the search engine gaint has many fights to win

Recently Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL), through its executive chairman Eric Schmidt, responded to Tim Cook’s, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO, letter on privacy.  The letter distanced Apple from use of consumer data, a practice common with data mining companies such as those engaged in ad businesses.

The response could open a war of words on privacy between these two tech giants, but this not the only war that the search engine giant is fighting. Since the company is engaged in different business niches, the company has made so many rivals and thus receiving blows from all directions. Here are Google’s current battles and how it is handling each an every one of them:

Google vs. Facebook –ad business

Over one and a half years ago, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB) bought Microsoft Corp’s (NASADQ: MSFT) Atlas ad measurement and serving platform. The social media network has now revamped this app and is soon launching it to help its advertisers measure the performance of the ads they post on the social network, its apps or third party sites. And with Facebook’s mobile ads performing exceptionally well, Google has every reason to worry of its DoubleClick display ad unit.

Google is not sleeping on the job, however. The company acquired ad measurement platform Adometry and has been upgrading its system to perform better by being able to track offline and cross-device activity. Besides this, the company launched an app install ad service for AdWords search ad. This will definitely help it secure its position as the number one online advertiser.

Google vs. Samsung: the entry of Tizen OS

The South Korean electronincs company Samsung has been gradually developing its OS known as Tizen. The system is not only meant for smartphones, but also tablets and home appliances. This bad news to Google as Samsung has been the real force behind Android dominance in the smartphone market.

To replace Samsung, Google has partnered with HTC to make its next 9-inch Nexus tablets. Both Google and HTC are poised to benefit from this deal. The search engine giant will be reducing reliance on Samsung through supplier diversification, while the Chinese gadget maker will benefit from the Nexus effect.

Payment Service: Google VS. Apple

On Sept 9 Apple unveiled its iPhone 6, and also making its debut was Apple Pay, a mobile payment solution. While Google was a first mover in the mobile payment market, the search giant failed to make any impact. But Apple has been able to convince financial industry players such as merchants, banks and insurers to accept its mobile payment service. Already some top-tier merchants are on-board including McDonald’s, Whole Foods, Duane Reade, Subway, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Staples and Disney.

In response to Apple’s onslaught on e-Payments solutions, Google is rumoured to be working with eBay Inc’s (NASDAQ: EBAY) subsidiary PayPal. This has even prompted rumours that Google might as well acquire eBay or its subsidiary.  Whatever the case, partnership with PayPal, which has gained global traction as an online payment network, will be a perfect response. Also the availability of iOS 8 mobile payment solution has created a gap for a similar solution for android. Actually, industry players will be quick to embrace an android mobile payment solution as it the largest mobile community.

Conclusion

Google has ventured in virtually every business that relates to the internet. This has created different angles for competition as each player scramble for the open market. While the search giant has many battles to fight, it has nothing to fear as it has a formidable defence thanks to huge amount of money on its coffers.

Bigger iPhone Models in the Pipeline

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The iPhone Maker is Making two new Models with Larger Displays

bigger iphones, iPhone models,Do you own an iPhone? Do you like the size of your phone or would you prefer a larger one? Bloomberg is reporting that Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL)will begin mass production of the largest iPhones ever next month. Without mentioning names of its source, the site claims that the people from the inside say this is in response to increased competition in the Smartphone market. So could big iPhone models be in the pipeline?

According to the leaking reports, which are also captured by The Guardian, Apple is working on two iPhone models with larger screens courtesy of its Chinese supply chain. One device is said to have a 4.7-inch screen, knocking out the current screen 4- inch size of iPhone 5S. The other device, also in the pipeline, is much larger and is expected to have 5.5-inch display. Both the two iPhone models are to be made available in the market in about two months.

Why Bigger iPhones?

The competition in the Smartphone market is increasing becoming more aggressive. Already other players such as Samsung Electronics and HTC Corp. (TPE: 2498) have introduced their models with larger displays.

In China, many consumers prefer smartphones with large screens. As indicated by statistics from Forrester Research, 40% of the Google Inc.’s Android mobile devices sold in 2014 had displays of at least 5-inches. So Apple is in order to introduce larger screen displays, if it wants to put the pressure on Google Android’s largest phone marker, Samsung.

The new iPhone models will help the company compete with the South Korean electronics giant, whose Galaxy Note 3 is about 5.7-inch  in display. The smaller of the two iPhone models, 4.7-inch screen, is about the same size as Samsung Galaxy S III released in 2012, or Amazon.com, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AMZN)flagship – new kid in the bloc – the Fire Phone.

Other Features of the new iPhone Models

In addition to the change in size, the new models will be rounder and thinner compared to the previous models. There are also unconfirmed reports that the new models may also include:

  • 2.5-dimension curved glass
  • Enhanced sensors to detect different pressure levels, making the screen detect light and heavy touches.
  • A new OS (iOS 8)

New Powering Software: iOS 8

The new, yet to debut, iOS 8, has a host of new features for both the iPhone and iPad. The capabilities of the new software ranges from enabling users to use their mobile devices as remote to their home locks and lighting system, to monitoring their health.

Features of the new iOS 8 include:

  • Adaptive display that allows programs to fit in varying screen sizes.
  • Swipe functionally borrowed from iOS 7.

The iOS 8 is expected to debut alongside the new iPhone models in September.

Conclusion

iPhone is contributing more than 70% of Apple’s revenues and the company’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook must work through thick and thin to maintain  iPhone’s positive sales growth. The new iPhone models in the pipeline might help him achieve this, but there are reported complexities in their production. All in all, we expect Apple to sail through smoothly and the models will be available in retail stores come September!

iPads soon to Lose its Dominance to Galaxy Tablets

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iPads soon to Lose its Dominance to Galaxy Tablets

nintendo-dsApple is likely to lose its tablet market dominance to its formidable rival Samsung (OTC:SSNLF). Samsung is set to launch its high-end tablet, Galaxy Tab S, to battle it out with Apple’s iPads with retina displays. The new product is expected to have a larger screen, and be thinner and lighter than any iPad in the market. This new product is likely to reignite the battle between these two electronics titans, after a gruesome battle in the iPhone market. Apple was the leading Smartphone maker until Samsung, courtesy of Google Inc.’s Android operating system, put up a strong challenge. As at now, Apple trails Samsung in Smartphone shipments and there is every chance that Samsung’s new tablet is likely to trounce Apple’s iPad.

Apple-Samsung Duel

Apple and Samsung have, since 2007, been fighting for the lucrative Smartphone market. The cut-throat competition has led to legal litigation arising from a number of copyright infringement disputes between the two companies. As at now, there is a pending case in which Apple wants a number of Samsung phones bared from the U.S. market. Over the last few years, the popularity of Google’s Android operating system has rapidly increased keeping the pressure on iOS. There has been a widespread belief that android is for the poor, while iOS is for the affluent. However, this notion is slowly fading, thanks to Samsung’s high-end Smartphone series. Over the past half a decade, the Smartphone market has seen the share of Samsung triple from around 10%. In Q1 of 2014, the South Korean conglomerate held the largest share of the Smartphone market, followed by Apple at 15%.

Galaxy Tab S

Samsung Galaxy Tab S, the most stylish and arguably the best Samsung tablet, is set to be unveiled in July. This is response to Apple’s iPad with retina display. Since Samsung has demonstrated that it is technologically endowed to compete with Apple’s standards as far as affluence, innovation and style are concerned; perhaps its flagship tablet will upset Apple. However, now Apple is still the dominant brand.

Specifications

  • Weight: 294g and 465g respectively
  • Thickness: 0.26”
  • Wi-Fi
  • Screen:  Super AMOLED screens with 2560×1600 resolutions
  • Expected Price: $399 and $499 respectively

The above features are far much better than what Apple’s iPad with retina display offers. The mini version of the iPad has  a thickness of 0.29”, weighs 331g and is available at a retail price of $399, same as Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4” version. The Samsung’s tablets seem to be incisively designed to take on the dominant iPad.

Conclusion

Samsung is banking on the success its Galaxy S smartphone series to set another battle front with Apple, this time round in the tablet market.  While Apple has remained predominantly the best tablet in the market, Galaxy Tab S brings a new challenge. And given the market recognition of the Samsung Galaxy S smartphones, this new flagship tablets will definitely be successful. It is undisputed that Apple is ingenious when it comes to style, innovation and quality. However, iPad and many other electronics products consumers shop for not just quality, but price. If this is the case, the Samsung provides both and Apple isn’t winning this battle.