It’s been expected that Google (GOOG) would launch some form of music service, and with Android now a fully established mobile platform, we expect that music service to rival Apple (AAPL) iTunes. The last week has been full of music-related developments on Google’s part, from a handful of uncovered domain URLs to a Market app revealed in a series of leaked screen shots. With this week’s acquisition of PushLife, Google’s even more likely to launch a music service soon, and the integration of PushLife’s software could help Android along in a big way.
PushLife could help Android compete with iTunes
The details of the PushLife acquisition have not been revealed, nor have the exact goals Google has around incorporating the technology into its extended platform. But it could prove helpful to Android’s own music efforts, with its mobile media syncing software. PushLife’s product lineup already includes custom media-management apps that run on Android devices, with support for iTunes and Windows Media Player synchronization.
PushLife’s existing social network integration with Twitter, and even Last.fm, is a necessity, though its ideas around monetization methods are just as noteworthy. An integrated music store, planned in partnership with mobile network operators, fit well with carrier billing, and fit well with Google’s own relationships across carriers and devices.
Livio lands on Android
But PushLife isn’t the only music app in the Android Market -- Livio Radio has launched an Internet radio app for drivers, offering streaming capabilities on the go. Access hundreds of stations for free, and a reported 45,000 with the $4.99 upgrade. Livio has a search option, and also lets you save favorite stations. Already popular with iPhone users, Livio’s Android debut is designed for in-car use, with a built-in phonebook feature.
Teal_Blue
Google's acquisition of PushLife may bring music to Google, even to Android in particular, but if the simple act of acquiring new companies threatened the overthrow of other players, then MS would have had it all over all the other companies, though that has been disproved for several reasons.
One of course that MS was buying to 'kill' competition, and two MS dominated for far too long, but when the landscape changed, with Apples introduction of the smartphone, and the eco-system of iTunes/App stores and the iPad, then a whole new way of computing sprung up that MS was ill-suited to catch up to. They are still losing market share because the 'desktop' paradigm is less relevant as time goes on.
Google has grown in search and has sought to diversify for several years now. With succeeding ideas and projects and products that have largely failed.
Why?
Good question, perhaps because what made MS great was the initial control of pc's under the wings of IBM that gave it an edge that proved almost impossible to counter.
And with Google, the search algorithm's that moved us from 'portals' to search engines.
But each company's strengths have so far proved less than competent as they sought to expand. Each may be locked into a particular mindset that flourishes in only certain circumstances.
My point being, that Google will need to execute much more beyond it's comfortability zone in order to dislodge Apple than may actually be possible.
Companies do in fact change and learn, Apple is a very good example of this. But many sadly don't. Digital Research, Novell, IBM's pc division, Silicon Graphics all come to mind.
As more options come available, and as these new computing devices move us further and further from a Windows Desktop centered existance, these alternate platforms will only grow.
Google may be able to mount a competitive bid for online music and or Android competition to iOS in the tablet arena, but what if Chrome fails on the 'Big Brother' Google-in-your-computer, loss of personal privacy fears on netbook/tablet/laptop side? And Android continues to fracture? What about the proliferation of Android markets, both for convenience and choice, but certainly also for viruses and online crime scams?
If Google can counter these situations that threaten their platforms, then they may be able to focus a concentrated effort at besting Apple. But if these problems persist for several more years? Then Android may die on the vine.
Right now everyone and their brother is on Android to oppose Apple and get a slice of the new smart device market. That momentum in itself doesn't mean it will succeed.
A convenient, virus free, innovative and large market experience is what customers want. Unsettling Apple at what appears to be 'their game' is not so easily achieved as buying a new company to throw at Apple.
MS learned that as it lost browser and phone share and increasingly pc share as they struggled against a new generation of not only devices that took away from the pc mindset, but also people's preferences and habits on these new devices as 'computing' changed to mean something more than a pc sitting on a desktop somewhere.
Google may be in line to learn the same lesson.
-Teal