Well, that’s not exactly accurate. Google and Microsoft, both giants in their fields, have been at each other’s throats for so long. Sometimes the skirmishes are low-key with a launch of an application here and there, or it would be highly-publicized where both companies have battled to acquire a company, culminating in a battle of bids for another online powerhouse, Yahoo, Inc.
In September this year, Google eschewed the thinly-veiled threats and double meanings and came out with Google Chrome. The launch was accompanied by press release that left nothing to the imagine, Google came right out and said that Chrome was going to be its platform for desktop applications that it was planning to bring offline.
Even with its online clout, prowess and influence, Google has a long way to go when it comes to offline applications. Maybe that’s why Google is trying hard to bring the area online–even for traditionally offline applications. Even so, Microsoft has proven itself in other areas, including Software asa Service and its .NET framework.
Google, however, has proven to be the more cost-effective way to do things. It has cornered the market when it comes to advertising revenues, and for the time being this is enough to fund all its free products and services, along with its research and design teams.
Personally, I like to watch. I’d like to see what will happen in 2009 between these two companies. This battle of the giants is sure to make things better for the rest of us. I am seeing more cutting edge products, better services, wider selections, and more options. All these as prices drop, and previously paid and subscription products and service become free to use.
Things have been awfully quiet for the past three months. Maybe Google just gave up after the lukewarm reception of its latest browser. Maybe they’re just keeping everything in wraps. Google could very possibly come up with an office productivity suite to rival Microsoft Office tomorrow. It would be available online, and it would be free. What’s more, it’s going to feel like you’re using Microsoft Word.
Maybe not.
Maybe, we’ll just never know for sure.
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