Microsoft Without Google

If Google is the light at the end of the tunnel, Microsoft is the dark spaces in between — it’s all around yet it can’t be seen. Indeed, Microsoft has seen better days.

Yet without Google in the way, maybe Microsoft could have had its way. The resurgence of open source software might not have come to be. Adoption of Windows-based operating systems would still be stronger than ever. Desktop software still could have been as crucial as it was only a decade ago. Furthermore, Microsoft would have surely have innovated in online advertising and in the cloud space, all while reaping in billions.

Microsoft and Yahoo would have battled it out for online supremacy, with Bing never becoming a factor.

Unfortunately, the entire web would have suffered for this. The advancement in online technologies, services, software-as-a-service, and other developments in the past years might not have come as rapidly as they have with the help of companies like Google — which had the drive to really innovate — while existing companies really sat back and watched the money roll in.

Thankfully, we do have an abundance of Web-based applications, which was clearly an arena Microsoft was never prepared to do battle in. Even Google has had its online suite of applications for years, while Microsoft has only just released their online versions of Word and other productivity apps in the past few months (which will be an interesting development to watch unfold).

But it is obvious that, while Microsoft and Google are competing, Google has been lenient towards Microsoft. Google avoided Microsoft’s turf for so long. For years, people have been calling for Google to create an operating system to crush Microsoft Windows, yet only recently has that happened with the development of Chrome OS, the Chrome browser, and Android. And, as previously mentioned, Google could have pushed harder with their online productivity apps.

So ultimately, in this world of cutthroat competition, Microsoft has been quite fortunate that Google hasn’t piled on the pressure, as some serious damage could have been done.

But could you imagine if some other form of competition (other than Google) had stepped up to take on Microsoft? What if they weren’t as lenient as Google? Maybe another up-and-coming competitor would have had it out for Microsoft. Maybe — just maybe — Microsoft owes its continued dominance in the PC market in part to Google’s mercy. What an interesting thought that is.

Apple Without Google

But you can’t write a tech-related article these days without mentioning Apple. This all has to make people wonder about what sort of an impact Google has had on Apple’s success and what the present might have looked like if Google wasn’t around.

Instead of Microsoft having to only keep Apple away from its market share, it has had to deal with Google as well. While Microsoft was sitting on the sidelines in disarray — attempting to get a grip on the Internet’s growth — Apple pushed forward and innovated. It eventually became a reality for people to abandon Microsoft’s ecosystem for something else entirely. Of course, Apple was there to capitalize.

Regardless, now Apple is a powerhouse that is dominating markets that Microsoft should have been conquering.

But we can’t forget that Apple and Google teamed up to create some amazing applications for the iPhone. Without Google Maps, YouTube integration, and the general emphasis of Web-based services, the iPhone might not have been born (it’s a disturbing thought to think that we would have been left with BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices).

That said, it is quite ironic that Apple and Google are no longer seeing eye to eye. It could prove costly to both companies in the future.

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