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Don't call Google's search business a monopoly, the company's executives have reminded us.Unfortunately, we're running out of other ways to describe it. Researchers at Hitwise released new data Monday indicating that Google in July topped a 70 percent share of U.S. Web searches (70.77 percent to be exact). That's up 10 percent from the same month a year ago and 2 percent from the previous month. Yahoo search was second at 18.65 percent, MSN search was third at 5.36 percent, and Ask.com came in fourth at 3.53 percent.
No real surprises, then?
Still, this might be Microsoft's ploy. Play dead until Google actually *is* branded a monopoly..
not (yet) learned the meaning of the word 'monopoly'
I don't follow. The situation does seem to be approaching monopoly. Google has created a market where there are few substitutes and no one can argue that Google isn't a price maker (though they might get around that because there is still a bidding component to their advertising).
I think government involvement in the search industry would be disastrous, but this is starting to look like a one-player game.
Uhhh, if this isn't the definition of monopoly, I don't know what is.
When consumers don't have any choice.
And I'm sure Google would be happy with about 95% of the market share. That still leaves a choice. They've been assimilating that market slowly one percent at a time. The Gorg.
Monopoly is nothing to do with the size of the operation, or even its market share.
It's about consumer choice.
And at this time, consumers may be choosing Google but that's the point; they are *choosing* Google.
There is no evidence at all that Google is doing anything to limit choice - except by being better than their rivals (or being perceived to be).
Though if they'd 'rescued Yahoo!', that may have become an issue.
No reason for the 'man in the street' to know these things ... but hitwise have a responsibility to their readers not to talk so much twaddle :)
mo·nop·o·lyExclusive control by one group of the means of producing or selling a commodity or service.
My bold.
mo·nop·o·lyExclusive control by one group of the means of producing or selling a commodity or service.
And mine :)
Plus, of course, they are giving it away (we were talking about Search!).
And I'm sure Google would be happy with about 95% of the market share.
Remember when IE had 95% market share? Choice still existed, and indeed people started to choose other options, bringing IE market share down to 60-75% today (depending on who you ask).
The IE scenario was a little different. Microsoft Windows had some 90% of the market share, and shipped by default with IE. While this could be construed as fair game, it was ruled to be a monopoly (at least in the UK) because the average consumer didn't know they had a choice.
I believe it was the long term exclusive contracts with computer manufacturers that made Windows itself a monopoly. Maybe they're related, too.
Monopoly is nothing to do with the size of the operation, or even its market share.It's about consumer choice.
I agree with this statement and don't think Google has done anything wrong or anti-competitive to this point. However, practically speaking if Yahoo, Microsoft, and a startup of former G employees with $33,000,000 can't make a dent, then Google is very much in control of this market.
Google in July topped a 70 percent share of U.S. Web searches (70.77 percent to be exact).
Finally, at least someone’s posting market share numbers that reflect the world we live in. As far as it being a monopoly, it isn’t one for consumers; they can go anywhere they want. But boy if you make your living off of search, and don’t do business with them, I just don’t know how you would survive. Call that whatever you want.
evidence of a quality product
Hmmmm agree to disagree on this point.
Best of a bad bunch springs to mind in some areas...
Yes they are better than the others... but it is NOT a quality products in lots of ways.
Thats why I always take the Racecar...instead of the Thimble...I try to zoom by without paying rent.
Sad to say but I'd take ComScore data over Hitwise any day.
