We all have been looking at Apple as it transformed itself over the last few years. But how much of a turnaround has it been? And, and what point will an Apple, Google and Amazon.com alliance pose a threat to Microsoft where full replacement technologies are a reality?
Looking at the financial crises globally, we’ve returned to “cash is king”. Apple has $25billion, Google has $14.4billion and Microsoft has $21billion in cash reserves. Microsoft’s deal with Yahoo is still lingering, but for how long (or is it now finally over)? Revenue growth for the quarter is looking pretty good where Apple has shown 27% growth, Google at 31% and Microsoft at 18%.
If the network is becoming the computer (as initially promoted by Sun) how long before the world stop using desktop operating systems and applications all together? We are seeing massive growth in telecommunications infrastructure and broad-band upgrade projects around the globe. Companies like MTN is pursuing business on the African continent to bring telephony to the masses; people who have little access to basic lifestyle products – yet they own cellphones…
The new world of innovation is far removed from the classical industrial view on innovation. Here are some points to ponder:
– re-thinking your business’s abstract value in relation to its value proposition (Apple is becoming a media company)
– redefining business models by separating the participative customers from economic customers (Google is an infomogul)
– driving open innovation models by using collaborative and socially connected talent pools (Google’s Android is a developer ecosystem, etc)
– protecting your business channel turf (Microsoft’s focus on interrelated and mass-adopted products)