Google came approximately 15 years ago and it is showing none of the weakening complacencies that derailed many once-dominant tech companies. In 2013, the company continues to solidify its position in just about in any area of the Internet-based economy. The company is competing in multiple areas; web-based services, software, hardware, social networking, TV and retail.
But despite the seemingly lack of focus, Google is reaping significant gains this year. It’s success is due to the release of new products, services and software platforms. Here five are Google’s significant achievements in 2013:
- Google Glass: Google simply played catch-up when Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007 and this strategy proved to be very effective. Apple has started to relinquish its mantles of innovation and Google gets one of them. The Google Glass is something quite unique, because it is the first wearable computing device with optically-driven technology. The Google Glass won’t hit the shelves until 2014, yet the company has already disseminated sample units to some reviewers earlier. Although this led to a huge wave of publicity, there’s still a continued uncertainly about when Google will release the device. To make the device a huge success, Google first needs to solve a chicken-and-egg problem. The Glass is not yet socially acceptable, since not many people own it. Wearers still receive weird looks from uninformed people and this is a major hurdle in the Google Glass experience. Collaboration with fashionable eyewear brands could help Google work out any kink and yield a less geeky design. Although the Glass may end up as a colossal flop, the device already makes Apple look somewhat more timid, since lately it brings us only a few mildly-tweaked devices, such as the iPad Air, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.
- Android conquers the mobile market: For many users, the Apple iPhone is still the very definition of smartphones, but in reality about 80 percent devices in the market runs Android OS. In the mobile industry, Google is playing the Microsoft-like role. But there is one big difference. For Microsoft, Windows OS is a lucrative cash cow earning the company billions of dollars each year. On the other hand, Google distributes Android OS free of charge and it doesn’t make any money from the software platform. Much of the revenue is gained through advertising and with such a significant chunk of market share; Google continues to grab a significant amount of money. Apple argues that many of current Android-based devices are just “junk” and it is still the most profitable company in the mobile industry.
- It acquired Waze: Google still earns respect for its mapping solution, especially after the disastrous introduction of Apple’s Maps. Waze, the Israel-based company, incorporates real-time data, like weather and traffic into maps, which makes it ahead of the curve. Thanks to its credible infrastructure, Waze is currently one of very few companies that are able to offer such valuable data with the mapping platform. Google won a fierce bidding war that might include Facebook and Apple. With Waze’s technology, Google should be able to maintain its reputation as the premier provider of cartography service in the Internet.
- It helped the launch of Motorola Moto X: The Moto X is the smartphone Google and its subsidiary, Motorola, designed together. Although critics argue that the phone lacks any strong differentiator, it received a lot of positive reviews. Users could utter “OK, Google Now” to bring the phone to life. It may not be considered as a breakthrough, but for Google, the Moto X is an important milestone.
- 50 billion apps downloaded: The Google Play arrived as Android market in 2008 just months away after Apple brought us the App Store. Traditionally, developers release iOS-optimized version of their app ahead of the Android iterations. But this began to change as Android grabs 80 percent of the market share and as many as 50 billion app downloads have been performed on the Google Play store. It is increasingly difficult for developers to continue adopt the iOS-first strategy.
The post Google’s Significant Mobile-Related Achievements in 2013 appeared first on John's Phone - The World's Simplest Cell Phone.
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