Is it just me or is Google slowly ripping off Apple’s iPhone? I mean I can’t blame them. Look at the success the iPhone has had over the past several years. Why wouldn’t they want to get in on the action? But is that really all that’s happening? Is Google trying to steal Apple’s thunder, or is there something else going on, and should it matter to Internet marketers?
Oh, you bet it does. As every phone manufacture on the planet comes out with some variation on the iPhone theme, the opportunities to earn money in the mobile space increase.
Until Apple kicked open the door with the iPhone, phone carriers were still feeding the market sad little “internet ready” devices that you couldn’t really use for anything productive. For what ever the reason, the mobile space was stagnant. Then came the ipod.
Originally Apple entered the mobile space by helping to make legal individual music downloads possible. In doing so they established a nice channel of commerce for themselves where customers were trained to make convenient purchases at a low price.
Then Apple introduced the iPhone, which was essentially an iPod and a phone in one. People were already used to buying music on their iPod, now they could put that music on their phone too. Once Apple turned on the App Store, it was really a no brainer for consumers to keep buying through the same channel that they were accustomed to.
By this time competitors were racing to catch up and I think this is where Google saw the future come into clear view. While Apple has been busy capitalizing on their platform by offering music, movie, and App downloads through their easy to use one click purchasing tool (the iPhone and iPod Touch), Google has been fanning the flame for mobile demand.
By offering an alternative to the iPhone, Google has ensured the health of mobile computing. Remember that Google is the largest advertising company in the world. They sell ad space to advertisers. That’s what they do, and they want to do that on mobile phones too. Google hasn’t focused on creating App stores or music download sites. They aren’t going after Apple’s market share. They are ensuring that they are the number one player in the mobile search space.
So, what does that mean for affiliate marketers and Internet marketers in general? Well, for one it means opportunity for affiliates because they can join iTunes affiliate program and promote music, movie, and App downloads. It also mean opportunity for App developers who want to take a shot at creating the next killer App for the iPhone. And it means that Google is creating more and more opportunities to earn ad revenue in the mobile space.
So, yes the Nexus phone does look a lot like the iPhone. But I don’t think the reason is as simple as being another “Me too” product. Google’s just too smart for that.
Why do you think Google is offering a web phone?
Charles McKeever
OpenSourceMarketer.com
P.S. If you’re interested in trying your luck at winning the new Google Nexus One web phone, check out the contest that is happening over at the Affiliate Summit blog. They will be giving away an unlocked Nexus One phone next week. Maybe that could be you. Good luck.
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