In my opinion, Microsoft needs a stronger solution. Even as the company takes a new ‘devices and software’ image, its Surface Tablet seems to be taking hits as suggested by the now confirmed $150 price cuts. Microsoft ought to have looked for a lasting solution to the PC sector’s woes. This was its only stable income stream.
Self driving cars concept another market all together
While analysts argue that commercial availability for Google’s self driving cars technology is something that is decades away, Google’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, ventures that it’s only years away. Schmidt adds that Google has held discussions with “every single car company.”
This self driving cars concept could be a game changer, even as Apple intensifies its footing in web-based services for automobiles through the impending launch of its iTunes online radio service.
Apple is set on capitalizing on the healthy automobile industry where it will battle with heavyweights like Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) and Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI). In the near-term, Apple will not be a great threat to Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI), as the latter is not dependent on web based services. Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P) however is under direct threat. Considering that Apple’s iPhone is widely dominant in the U.S, there could be a great possibility that most of Pandora’s users access its service through their iPhones. Apple could very well leverage this factor to rope in as many of Pandora’s users into its own internet based iTunes Radio service.
But as cars also go smart, an all-encompassing Google ecosystem brought about by the self driving cars concept could sideline current online service providers. This will open up an opportunity for Google to tailor its own web based services, apart from the now widely popular maps, to automobile owners. From this perspective alone, we see that the self driving cars concept is a strong growth pillar.
Conclusion
Although some competitors are better off in specific fronts and niche markets, Google’s holistic approach minimizes risks and promises collective growth. It’s not too late to get onto this ship. There is still great potential upside in Google despite the seemingly ‘high’ price.
Lennox Yieke has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Facebook, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.
The article What Next After Hitting $1000? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Lennox Yieke.
Lennox is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
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