Microsoft and Google: Nasty tactics reported A story that
Microsoft is behaving like a bully and threatening Google.
The
search engine war between Google and MSN is generating some nasty
tactics reminiscent of the Microsoft vs. Netscape battle of the mid
'90's. Those who remember that battle will recall the almost
surgical methods used by Microsoft to all but destroy Netscape.
Today, Netscape is a shell of its former self, kept in a dull
corner of the Time Warner empire and denied the attention or
funding it needs to reemerge as a viable entity in the browser
market. Many will also remember the tactics used by Microsoft to
destroy Netscape generated years of anti-trust litigation and
almost led to the break-up of the world's richest corporation and
largest software maker. At the end of the day of course, Microsoft
got off with a wrist slap and the knowledge that the US Government
will not kill a goose that lays golden eggs (and whose products run
much of the national infrastructure). Microsoft is obviously
feeling free to resort to some its old tricks and the search engine
wars are about to go mainstream, possibly becoming public
entertainment. Remember the film, Pirates of Silicone Valley? This
script promises to be even more interesting.
Search is the fastest growing sector
of the Internet and the advertising industry. Currently considered
a $2 - 2.5Billion industry, industry experts expect search and
search technology to generate over $8Billion per annum by 2007. As
a yardstick to measure by, the logging industry in British Columbia
is valued at approximately $5Billion per year. Search, in other
words, is a serious global business that is projected to generate
staggering revenues and growth over the next half-decade. That much
money tends to generate a great deal of
motivation.
According to yesterday's New York
Times, Microsoft has officially turned its great eye on Google and
is specifically targeting Google and its employees. Microsoft
recruiters are said to be calling Google staff at home, telling
them that MSN's new search tool will bury Google and that they had
better defect north to Redmond Washington as soon as possible
before their jobs and soon to be stock options are worthless.
Executives from both companies were seen watching each other like
hawks at last week's World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland.
Wherever a Google representative went, a MSN exec was steps behind,
and vica versa. Meanwhile, back in the United States, Microsoft
employees are examining Google patents looking for potential
weaknesses to exploit. Microsoft is obviously playing for keeps and
appears to be preparing to head off the inevitable legal battles
that will stem from the introduction of Microsoft's new operating
system, Longhorn, currently in development and scheduled for
release early next year.
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