Microsoft 2.0 = Google?

Now you might be thinking I am crazy when I state that Microsoft 2.0 is Google. But give me a chance to explain and (I hope) you will see my point. And there are some differences that make Google liked when Microsoft was hated. I want to begin by saying that I really like Google, mainly because I think they have moved the Internet along at a speed that is faster than the previous leaders. We owe a lot of where we are today to Google. From ad programs, to search, to bringing the Internet to the mainstream, Google has done a better job than anyone else. As they continue to grow, I hope that they can continue this leadership role.

If we look back to the '90s, Microsoft built app after app. When they couldn't beat someone, they bought them.

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?>Now let's look to today. Google is building app after app. When they can't beat them, they buy them. Most recent purchases include YouTube, Writely, etc. Google currently dominates the web in every space they compete.

People were afraid of Microsoft then and they are afraid to speak up against Google now. Just look at Google Adsense. No one (including me) is willing to speak out about forcing Google to show how much they are making per click. We just accept whatever pennies they throw at us.

Ever wonder how many apps Google actually owns? Let's look at the list:

• YouTube
• Writely – now Docs and Spreadsheets
• Blog Search
• Google Analytics
• Google Webmaster Tools
• Book Search
• Regular Google Search
• Catalog Search
• Checkout
• Desktop Customizator
• Web Directory
• Google Earth
• Finance
• Froogle
• Image Search
• Local Search
• Maps
• News
• Scholar
• Google Toolbar
• Video Search
• Video Tool
• Blogger
• Calendar
• Gmail
• Google Groups
• Picasa Image Tool
• Google Earth 3d Modeler – Sketchup
• Google Talk
• Translate Tool
• 3 mobile tools
• Pack of desktop software
• Web Accelerator
• (and that's just the personal apps – there are about 30 business solutions as well!)

So with all of that said, what are the reasons why the tech community is behind/respects Google when they weren't behind Microsoft. You do not see any anti-Google rallies like you saw with MS. Why?

1. Google's applications are free — I think its pretty hard to hate something that is free.
2. Google opens its applications — Google allows you to use many of their APIs to build applications from. When I attended the Search Engine Strategies conference earlier this year, the expo was full of companies built on the Google APIs. Another person I attended with noted that if Google turned off their API, at least 100 companies in the expo would be out of business overnight.
3. Google takes user's input to improve the tools – By being open to the public and accepting input, Google tool users feel like they are a part of the tool – rather than just buying something off the shelf like in the past with MS.
4. Google communicates from the inside out – people like Matt Cutts have become Internet stars because they share with the public tips and happenings within the GooglePlex. This type of corporate open communications style is a breath of fresh air and makes Google well liked.

So is Google the next version of Microsoft? Yes, but with some upgrades and enhancements. I think it is important that Google remains as open as possible going forward. There was a time in the late 90's when Yahoo! was the most dominant player online, but that title has moved to Google and will probably remain there for the next decade.

Google's market cap is 130 billion dollars. Market cap is equal to the number of shares multiplied by the current share price. To put that in perspective, Microsoft's cap is 275 billion and Proctor & Gamble cap is currently 198 billion. Pretty large numbers I would say and it shows that Google is here to stay. Wondering why I included P&G? Because they are also able to outspend any competitor and push them into the ground.

I hope in 10 years we can look back and still say that we are happy that Google runs the Internet. Because it sure does today.