Google Desktop; Now This Could Be Interesting
Google's battle against Microsoft will be ratched up a notch or two
later today when Google unveils a deal with Sun Microsystems that will
bring open-source StarOffice software suite to Google users. I guess
one way of looking at this agreement is if Google can't knock off
Windows as the operating systems, the backup plan is to launch products
and services (StarOffice, Gmail, GoogleTalk, etc.) that will make life
miserable for folks up in Redmond. For more details on how this
marriage will work, check out Internet News.
What I would like Google to do next is launch a branded Web browser to
take a real run at Microsoft's Internet stronghold. Whether it does a
deal Firefox or another browser (Flock,
Netscape as perhaps part of a bigger deal to buy AOL), a Google-branded
would provide the ideal platform for Google to direct users to it
various Web properties and, as a result, drive even more AdSense
revenue. Now that I think about it, I'm puzzled why Google has been
fooling around with services such as GMail, Froogle and Okrut when the
real online prize is the browser. Larry and Sergey are just too smart
to not have a browser strategy. Then again, it took Google years to
finally get into the e-mail game so perhaps the Wonder Boys are waiting
for the right opportunity. When Robert Scoble is finished lobbying
Microsoft for money so he can make an acquisition, perhaps he can start
pushing for Google to buy Flock!
