Throwing a Googly.

[garinda]

'Google has been called a “predator” and “monopoly giant” by a Labour MP, complaining the internet heavyweight was ruining the chances for British companies to get ahead.'

'Graham Jones, MP for Hyndburn, secured a debate on UK search engines in the House of Commons this week and used the opportunity to document all his concerns surrounding the US company.'

'However, Ed Vaizey, the Government’s communications minister, said: “It is open to the consumer to choose the product that best suits them, but it is also open to individual companies to partner with whichever companies they choose.”

“Consumers want a service that offers good performance and enables them to find what they want quickly and easily. Google has entered a market and gained market share by giving consumers what they want.”

MP slams Google for anti-competitive practices | IT PRO

I'm suprisingly with Ed Vaizey on this one.

We live in a free market economy.

If a company are providing a service that people want to use, you can't really do a lot about it.

Unless of course you limit free enterprise, and we are to have old style eastern European state run bodies. Limiting peoples' choice to one option, with no competition.

Google are the most successful company, providing people with what they want.

This will continue until this is no longer the case.

[garinda]

Complaining that Google wields too much power, because it's services are well used, is a little like moaning that the Sun, Britain's most purchased newspaper, therefore has too much power over it's readers.

Unless governments are going to interfere with what goods/services are freely available to Joe public, there's not a great deal you can do about it.

Choice.

You mightn't like it, but that's life.

[garinda]

I do hope all this wasn't inspired by a Google search.

First, an 'internet psycologist'.

Second entry, a 'wood carver'.

Thirdly Wikipedia.

Which lists our Graham Jones next to the bottom, of a list of seven.

[jaysay]

Seems we are both in agreement her G (which doesn't occur very often) I have always used a google tool bar as it has a great spell check

[andrewb]

Google is popular because it's good at what it does.

Graham specifically mentioned Google's Android Operating system for mobile phones and them bundling software into it at the competitive disadvantage to others such as Skype.

Skype is actually available as an app on the phone which can be downloaded from Google's own app store.

Android software is free for mobile phone manufacturers to use. The fact that it's free combined with how good the software is has led to its widespread adoption and success.

The software itself can be adapted by the manufacturers and some have removed Google search from Android, replacing it with competitor's search engines such as Microsoft's Bing. This obviously disadvantages Google significantly since the majority of their revenue is from adverts, many of which appear on Google searches. Hardly anti-competitive is it!

You can re-watch Graham's Westminster Hall debate at Player it's at 16:00.

[Neil]

I use Skype on my Android phone, Skype to Skype calls are free on three which makes it even better

[flashy]

i don't give a toss about what Graham or any of you lot say

i find Google useful, end of

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by flashy

i don't give a toss about what Graham or any of you lot say

i find Google useful, end of

Hear Hear Shaz

[yerself]

Originally Posted by jaysay

I have always used a google tool bar as it has a great spell check

It doesn't work.

[Less]

If it wasn't for google little sites like this probably couldn't keep their servers running.
Yes they make a profit, yes, they are a dominant force on the interweb, however they don't force and demand in a similar fashion to how one popular operating system does.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Less

If it wasn't for google little sites like this probably couldn't keep their servers running.
Yes they make a profit, yes, they are a dominant force on the interweb, however they don't force and demand in a similar fashion to how one popular operating system does.

Just read through when I said 'they make a profit 'I meant google not little sites.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by yerself

It doesn't work.

Works well enough to highlight all your mistakes

[Less]

Originally Posted by Less

If it wasn't for google little sites like this probably couldn't keep their servers running.
Yes they make a profit, yes, they are a dominant force on the interweb, however they don't force and demand in a similar fashion to how one popular operating system does.

Where have I heard that before?
At last I can understand what accywebs guru is talking about, just like grasshopper I have moved on in enlightenment, see I walked over the rice paper and left not a Mark!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Less

Where have I heard that before?
At last I can understand what accywebs guru is talking about, just like grasshopper I have moved on in enlightenment, see I walked over the rice paper and left not a Mark!

MarkAnd there was me thinking that was a dog with no roof in its mouth mark mark mark wuff wuff

[Less]

Originally Posted by jaysay

MarkAnd there was me thinking that was a dog with no roof in its mouth mark mark mark wuff wuff

Oh dear has Mick visited and stood on your oxygen line again?

Just like always on your school reports,
John can do better.