What FTC vs Google means for us

[cnguyen0320]

So if you havent heard, the United States and many EU nations have ongoing lawsuits against Google for anti-trust violations. If Google loses, it is possible that Google is split up. For example it could result in different companies where Android becomes its own company, Google search becomes independent, Google's cloud services (Drive) becomes its own company, etc.

If that happens, where does that leave us, the consumers?

Surely, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon would like to see Google crash and burn (but let me make it clear, APPLE IS NOT BEHIND THIS). Without google's strength and size, what will happen to Android?

 

[3bs]

Why would they have to be split up? Sorry I just haven't heard about this and don't know how these things work.

 

[cnguyen0320]

Why would they have to be split up? Sorry I just haven't heard about this and don't know how these things work.

The FTC (USA) and other EU nations are pursuing Anti-trust charges against Google. They are basically claiming that Google is a trust, which in many nations is illegal. If found guilty, Google will likely be broken up into many different divisions effectively reducing their influence and (i think) market power.

The other alternative would be a hefty fine and the reorganization of the company. I'm not sure of the details but it is something along those lines.

A little information I had found in a previous article: the FTC was pursuing charges against Google and one of the crucial pieces of evidence cited was how Google manipulates its search algorithm to send you to Google products first. They would phase out other sites to promote their own even though the other may have been more relative to the search.

The lawsuit has to do very little with Android itself but if Google loses, it may lead to dramatic changes to Android.

 

[Oletros]

So if you havent heard, the United States and many EU nations have ongoing lawsuits against Google for anti-trust violations.

Please, can you link to ANY of those lawsuits against Google?

 

[435713]

Nothing will come of it more than likely. My concern is Android getting that 90% share cause that is BAD for consumers once that happens. Laziness ensues and google isn't going to be immune to that. Hopefully Apple can keep their 10-15% and winMO can get around 30%, maybe RIM can make a comeback. Anything except a repeat of the 90's with MS Windows. Sadly I see that happening though.

 

[3bs]

Please, can you link to ANY of those lawsuits against Google?

I guess he's talking about this:

FTC should proceed with case against Google

Google Chief Page Said to Meet FTC Over Antitrust Probe

Google CEO said to meet with FTC over antitrust probe

 

[Oletros]

I guess he's talking about this:

FTC should proceed with case against Google

Google Chief Page Said to Meet FTC Over Antitrust Probe

Google CEO said to meet with FTC over antitrust probe

Yes, there are investigations but there is no lawsuit nor in the USA nor in the EU

 

[Dr McKay]

I imagine It won't mean much for us, isn't Samsung technically different companies? Samsung Electronics, Samsung Appliances, Samsung Heavy Industry?

 

[onthecouchagain]

Nothing will come of it more than likely. My concern is Android getting that 90% share cause that is BAD for consumers once that happens. Laziness ensues and google isn't going to be immune to that. Hopefully Apple can keep their 10-15% and winMO can get around 30%, maybe RIM can make a comeback. Anything except a repeat of the 90's with MS Windows. Sadly I see that happening though.

The folks over at Google say Android is only 1/3 done. I suppose only time will tell but I'm not too worried about them resting on their laurels. That's much more humbling a thing to say than what some of the other competition has to say about their own OSes...

 

[3bs]

Yes, there are investigations but there is no lawsuit nor in the USA nor in the EU

Oh ok. I misunderstood.

 

[cnguyen0320]

Yes, there are investigations but there is no lawsuit nor in the USA nor in the EU

Whoops. I thought there was an ongoing lawsuit. However, these investigations can quickly turn into lawsuit. We'll see what happens... I'm surprised these investigations have been dodging the news spotlight

 

[435713]

The folks over at Google say Android is only 1/3 done. I suppose only time will tell but I'm not too worried about them resting on their laurels. That's much more humbling a thing to say than what some of the other competition has to say about their own OSes...

I dont listen to any of these companies at anything they say. All of them I treat exactly as I would a whore, since they are no better than a whore. I give them money for services and kick em to the curb when I don't need them. Crude analogy but it makes sense to me anyway.

Looking at the #'s it has a likelihood to happen again with OEM's just humping the leg of that OS non stop. Oddly enough MS is in the best position to stop another Windows type monopoly-ish in the mobile market. History repeats I guess. The OS is fine and all but I rather have a choice of three with lots of support. Something we severely lack in the PC arena.

Not the end of the world obviously but I can still say it sucks. I may get an Android device one day, but if webOS per say had a lot of backing I would rather use that personally. Apple's narrow minded BS that they can not shake from Jobs creates hardly any market over a stretch of time.

ADD: Googs has done some really nice stuff with Android though I will admit. They also seem to like to have some fun so maybe they would handle that 90% better than MS.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Microsoft faced similar scrutiny several years ago and won their case. I'm sure Google will also.

 

[cnguyen0320]

Microsoft faced similar scrutiny several years ago and won their case. I'm sure Google will also.

Microsoft wasn't at the size of Google or controlling as many things as Google. I mean who does google really compete with? Yahoo, Bing? Barely. What about youtube? Vimeo? Lolz. Google kind of dominates internet...

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Everything is relative to market size. When Microsoft was sued under anti-trust allegations in the 90's, Google didn't even exist yet and MS dominated the OS market.

My point is that contextually speaking, Google may be huge but they are no different Han MS was back then. Nothing will come from this.