Google has grown vastly over the last 5 years without a doubt. Releasing Smartphone software, online applications and innovational products:  it has become the most expensive stock in the world.

Recently, outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said “they have this incredible, amazing, dare I say monopoly that we are the only person left on the planet trying to compete with.” In a way he could be right. With google looking to bring the future to the present we see that this is true. A monopoly is market structure that should not be influenced. It allows one firm to dominate a certain market.

Google has certainly brought itself up from just a search engine to creating Android, taking over Youtube, bringing out new online applications such as Google drive and so on. It deserves to be at the top. I do not think it has a monopoly as companies like Apple and Microsoft itself control a big proportion of the market too. During the late 20th century Microsoft was accused of playing a sort of monopoly, its ironic that their representatives in 2013 are now doing the same.

http://www.techspot.com/news/54076-ballmer-microsoft-has-discussed-googles-practices-with-competition-authorities.html

Apple’s release of the new Iphones

Every year, Apple launches a new iPhone and this year they launched two. Well, 9 million units of the iPhones were sold in their first weekend! Android continues its domination as the leading smartphone OS, although Apple’s iOS looks to have gained back some of the market share with their new phones.

As a current user of iPhone 5, I fail to see a significant change in the new models: 5s and 5c. It comes with some new features, such as the new OS, a better processor and the different colours. This offers buyers nothing more that wasn’t already on the previous model. It isn’t cheap either. You can get a Samsung or HTC for a much cheaper price with features that exceed those of the iPhone. Then why is there so much excitement? Apple products are ‘fashionable’. It has created a brand image which is simple, user friendly and efficient. It has become a lifestyle even though it is not the best on the market.

Sources:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/10/04/apples-iphone-5s-shows-better-availability-than-iphone-5-at-the-same-point

http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/07/iphone-5s-5c-selling-well-apple-sales-up-10-month-over-month-in-september-analyst/

Not so long ago BlackBerry was thriving in the smartphone market, yet recently there has been much talk about their tough financial situation. Lack of success in the innovation of their new phones has led to major losses to the company causing shares to drop dramatically, especially with high levels of competition from Apple and Samsung.

They have been thrown ‘lifelines’ with full or partial buyouts by companies such as Google, Cisco, Fairfax and a few others. It is possible that the company will now become private. Although it may not be the best solution, as the new owners may only seek to sell their patent portfolio. I think Blackberry should continue to attract investors by focusing on its network and security software. This gives them a smaller scale of consumers (businesses, corporate firms etc). This business strategy may bring them back to their feet and from there they can expand further to compete with the bigger technology companies.

Sources:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blackberry-falls-near-liquidation-value-says-report/article14715711/

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/blackberry-shares-rise-on-report-it-is-gauging-interest-in-a-buyout-1.1486987