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A comment on The Deal That Makes No Sense. Parent comment

Re:The Deal That Makes No Sense by bad_user on Tuesday September 03, 2013 @07:26AM (#6320272)
> If Android magically evaporated tomorrow Google would be just fine -- the core of their business (ad sales) doesn't fundamentally require that they control the mobile platform

I do not agree. They don't necessarily need to control the mobile platform, but they do need access to the distribution channels.

Witness how Apple replaced Google Maps with their own solution, even before their solution was good enough, as if they couldn't wait to get rid of GMaps. At some point not so long ago, they also threatened to replace Google's search engine with Bing by default. In 2009 Google Voice was also rejected from iTunes because it was "duplicating existing functionality".

Google is basically playing Microsoft's own game from the nineties - controlling the platform makes them a valuable distribution channel, ensuring not only their survival, but also giving them leverage in expanding to new markets.

Google is bigger and much more dangerous today because of Android, which IMHO is vital for them going forward.

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Re:The Deal That Makes No Sense by NotAnEngineer on Tuesday September 03, 2013 @09:18AM (#6320721)
> At some point not so long ago, they also threatened to replace Google's search engine with Bing by default.

In iOS 7, Siri (the only search interface Apple cares about) will search Bing by default. Source: http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/06/10/a-wiser-siri-snubs...

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Re:The Deal That Makes No Sense by ralfd on Tuesday September 03, 2013 @12:17PM (#6321788)
But it is arguable if Apple would have done that if Google would not have been their competitor. Before Android they had a nice partnership (with Google CEO Schmidt on Apples board).
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Re:The Deal That Makes No Sense by vxNsr on Tuesday September 03, 2013 @10:23AM (#6321125)
>Witness how Apple replaced Google Maps with their own solution, even before their solution was good enough, as if they couldn't wait to get rid of GMaps. At some point not so long ago, they also threatened to replace Google's search engine with Bing by default.

You've got to admit though that, the move was highly political, from both sides, Apple didn't want to provide Google with a bunch of data so Google refused to allow Apple to have turn-by-turn directions (because they happened to be supporting a competing platform), so Apple basically said screw you Google, we'll make our own maps.

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Re:The Deal That Makes No Sense by jtoeman on Tuesday September 03, 2013 @01:49PM (#6322452)
the entire history of this comes down to Google launching Android - AT ALL. Before then, strong, positive relationship. Once it happened, Jobs did the "thermonuclear war" thing and the company has been replacing Google components one piece at a time...
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