Required Reading

In addition to many technology-oriented blogs, Google now maintains a public policy blog. Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Andrew McLaughlin, maintains the beast although others at Google contribute to it. McLauglin writes:

At the beginning of 2005, I was Google’s lone public policy guy. Today, there’s a bigger – and growing – team of us scattered around the world, working on issues like privacy, child online safety, copyright and trademark protection, content regulation, reform of the patent system, and broadband policy. These issues are fundamental to the future of the Internet (and of the individuals it empowers), and are increasingly prominent on the agendas of policymakers worldwide.

Bully for Google. The links, as shown in the thumb image, align with McLauglin’s stated issues. However, McLauglin should expand his views and links to include competition because competition is always prominent on the agendas of policymakers.

Google has launched a lot programs since it launched a search engine. These programs including word processor, and a spreadsheet put Google ever closer to competing directly against Microsoft. I suspect Google’s relationship with Apple caused Apple to develop a Windows friendly version of Safari, Apple’s unexciting web browser.

Google’s ability to deliver content like word processing and spreadsheets relies on the browser. Since Google wants to push Microsoft on the demand for applications, Google does not see a benefit to relying on Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Who can predict Microsoft’s response in the event the demand for Google’s application continues to increase?

Instead, Google cast its lot with Apple. The Safari browser works on the iPhone, and computers running Macintosh or Windows operating systems. Where ever a browser and an internet connection exist, Google delivers its applications. This relationship leads back to Google’s need to think about competition in its public policy blog.

Microsoft will not retreat in the face of a Google-Apple alliance. Expect Microsoft to devote its significant resources at slowing or even halting the Google advance. They can forge alliances with other technology developers and deployers to offer alternatives, use pressure groups to give scrutiny on Google’s China dealings, and enlist public policy makers to even the playing field. Look for every strategic maneuver by Google to draw the interest of public policy makers. As the loopy Microsoft antitrust case, and the bizarre opposition to the merger between Whole Foods and Wild Oats shows, American public policy makers want to keep that undefined market competitive.