QOTD: How Much Are Google's Services Worth?
Today, many of us pay for our OS and the main programs that we use. Google is now shifting those ideas to web services, which are no less valuable.
Google today announced to the world its Chrome OS, which is just another piece in the puzzle to forming the complete Google-powered environment.
The core of Google's value is still what it can offer all internet users email, maps, translations, document and calendar collaboration, instant messenger, picture and video sharing, and perhaps above all, categorization of information.
Google is branching out, though, with its own web browser, mobile OS and ecosystem, and soon an operating system for netbooks to integrate it all together.
Some traditional office applications can be replaced by Google's cloud-based services, even leading some business to pay the Mountain View, Calif. company for corporate use of its apps.
The goal of the Chrome OS when it launches in the second half of 2010 is to integrate all of the Google services into one cohesive environment. The Chrome OS will be free, and we're guessing that the standard use of mail, documents, calendar will also be free. But at some point, Google's software will begin to push out similar offerings from Microsoft and Apple – software and services that users currently pay for and attach value to.
Assuming that Google's software and services could eventually replace your current paid-for products, how much are you willing to pay for the search giant's present (or eventual) offerings? More or less than what you are paying for now from Microsoft or Apple?
In other words, our QOTD is: How much are Google's services worth to you?
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£4.37
A lot of the parts that I Use are available free elsewhere, so probably not much - unless Google forces all of the other parties (e.g. multimap etc) who'd offer bits for free (and who'd hope to pick up on advertising) out of business - then there'd be a bit more value, but I hope it doesn't happen.
I've only ever purchased an OS with a new computer and as I'm not interested in using a netbook thing then I wouldn't be interested in the Google OS. If Acorn was reincarnated and brought back RISC OS then I'd be tempted, if only for nostalgia, but that's probably a different matter.
No more than what I'm currently paying for the same deal with UBUNTU i.e. nothing !
They are worth billions(us) in advertising revenue and brand awareness. As for a paid items, nothing. I only use them because they are free. They offer nothing over other free tools.