It may remind you of the cola wars. But this time it's the mammoth Microsoft and the giant Google clashing and the fizz is spreading for the media to savour.

In the past few months, the two seem to have dug their teeth into each other’s jugular vein. First Google shot the Chrome browser against Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

Then came Google‘s Android smart-phone operating system that was clearly to dent Microsoft’s Windows Mobile.

But Microsoft went straight for Google’s heart with Bing, the new search technology.

And finally, the most recent salvo from Google came when it announced that it was planning a computer operating system based on its Chrome browser – sure shot at Billy boy’s ‘Window’.
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How does it help the two IT bellwethers to lock horns like this? Is there an untapped market space and thus money in it?

Why would Microsoft shift focus from its main money spinners – Windows and Office and why does Google want to stray from internet ads into the much monopolized world of operating systems and browsers?

A vast majority of Google searches are done on PCs running Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer. So would Google really gain from displacing these products?

It seems like a lose-lose situation for both as both companies may take eons to actually get some moolah from their mutually-competing product pursuits. But the reality is that the game is on and the two companies are ostensibly trying to step on each others’ toes big time.
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In May, Microsoft unveiled Bing, its new Internet search engine, at San Diego. With the final unveiling of a product that had been MS’s long standing threat to Google, the software giant has finally scratched the tip of the search business which is worth $12 billion in the United States alone.

Microsoft tried to go the other way by training its eye on Yahoo – the second biggest player in search engine and had set aside a whopping $47.5 billion for the Yahoo buy. But the efforts fell on their face.

So finally Bing(o), it unveiled its own search engine and most certainly at a lesser cost.

Today Bing is a distant third in the search race. It would have to triple its audience to catch Yahoo – and grow eightfold to tie Google, which accounts for 65 per cent of searches in the United States. But the beginning has been made.
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So the billion dollar question is: Is Microsoft fearing that Google Apps - which are part of a growing online trend of offering software as services on the Internet, or "in the cloud," as opposed to people needing to buy, install and maintain programs on their own machines – may be the next killer strategy.

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Google believes that a huge shift in computing is under way - web connections will become so fast and browsers so powerful that most of the programs that currently run on PCs will become redundant. There would be online applications to handle every requirement.

So no installation, upgrade and back up software! And who knows, the war may help lower the cost of personal computers. And finally when it comes to Microsoft, no freeware has so far made a dent in its popularity. Will Google’s attempt bear fruit? yes.

Could be, but there is more to this than simply the technology. There's the corporate atmosphere and the creed.

Microsoft almost seems, in a way, to try to deliver a package that *almost* works, most of the time, but they have all kinds of subtle little ways to make sure they get paid. And they get sued, big time, and frequently, because they appropriate the work of others and/or violate anti-trust law. From the first big anti-Microsoft lawsuit over browser bundling in the mid 90's to the one over MS Word XML format, it's been one thing after another.

And if Microsoft had had its way, there would be no such thing as Open Source or open API on anything.

Their latest thing? Wanting to charge owners of multi-user machines, like Internet cafes and public libraries, additional licensing fees. Yeah, boy.

Google has always taken a different approach: provide something free that works, that's innovative. Now the new Nexxus One isn't free; premium Gmail isn't free; etc.

Google's motto has always been "Don't be evil." Now they're even considering pulling out of China over censorship and free speech issues. Contrast Microsoft's capitulation.

As the article in my first source says, they're no longer the David going against the Goliath. They're becoming Goliath, but maybe instead of the giant of destruction, they can become like the Abominable Snowman and hang stars, bringing light instead of lawsuits.

No, I think that is a poor comparison. Microsoft is a traditional company, borrowing against their future to build out into new markets now. For example, Microsoft's Xbox program was meant to lose billions of dollars just so Microsoft could get a foot hold in the video game market and they had to borrow that money to do it.

Google is a new-age company that focuses on only spending money it has now and they cash flow everything. For example, Google has created everything from Gmail to Apps and offered it for free, bulldozing their way into markets. All of this without borrowing a dime (that's how lucrative Internet search is).

Now the question is which way is the better way to go. IMHO, its Google's way, but if I had to predict the future, I'd bet Google collapses before Microsoft simply because Google is built on search and search alone. Nothing else they own or operate comes close to the revenue of search. Without search, Google is nothing. On the other hand, Microsoft is swimming in various product offerings that could legitimately keep them afloat.

Google is master in internet. while Microsoft is master in system application.

The question should be: Is Mahalo the next Google?

Both companies have taken a different approach in order to become successful.

As far I have seen .. Google has been successful with its Search Engine and Advertising Networks while Microsoft has been popular with its Operating Systems.

Both companies have tried to compete in each other markets but till now have failed to defeat one another.

No, they're different companies, performing different functions. Yes Google has started offering some applications that Microsoft also offers, but its true function is as a search engine.

Depends on how you look at it? Are they a huge company that dominates their space..Yes
But their core businesses are completely different.

Any thoughts on this question? interesting or not? http://bit.ly/6HRDE7

no. Google is Google. It is like apples and oranges.