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Google has made millions of lives happy. Specially, the management graduates, who finds it so simpler "to google" all their project reports and assignments and get them ready in one-tenth of the required time. Also, the Internet community in general, who find Google as a great help for all their Internet search problems. But is everybody happy with Google? Major players in the computing eco-system would like to differ, since it has raised fear in the mind of veterans in the industry and aroused their curiosity. It has also threatened the survival of few companies.

Google has not limited itself to search-engine, but it has become a gateway to the Internet and has taken steps to develop desktop applications, such as Google Toolbar, Google Desktop, Gmail and much famous Google Earth. Its Initial Public Offering (IPO) at NASDAQ has shown investors confidence in the company. Its IPO was a huge success and its stock has risen ever since. Google's strength lies in its people. It gives free rein to talented people to innovate. Some of the smartest graduates coming out of the top computer science programs are joining Google.

But why the behemoth from Redmond, who ruled this industry for almost two decade, has taken a special notice? Why Microsoft is worried and Bill Gates is privately rebuking Google? It is no longer a fight for the Internet Search Engine market between Microsoft's MSN and Google Search. The ground has been set for the bigger battle, may be one of the most interesting of the recent times. This battle is all about control over the platform for the next generation of software application development. Google's existing and potential products are raising serious doubts for the erosion of Microsoft's control on the platform.

What Microsoft built in last two decades, Google wants to end it now. It wants to strategically decrease people's reliance on Microsoft's platform. It would not be easy for Google but it would also not be impossible for it. It is the battle, which is going to be worth watching.

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* Contributed by -
Nipun Jain & Manvendra Singh,
Class of 2006,
Amity Business School, Noida.