The Big Business Battle

‘The bigger they are the harder they fall’. So says the old saying. It applies in business. The problem is that little companies only become big companies by committing themselves to expansion. In good times that works well. They make some profits and the investors and the staff are happy. The wheel turns on.

Study the battles of history and you find the components of the armies shaping up to be in the best position, taking charge of their equipment and devising a strategy.

In the computer world some giants are shaping up for battle. Microsoft has 90 % of the world’s operating systems and seems only there to be shied at. Massive fines have been levied for the odd misdemeanour - well, they can afford it can't they? And who likes a smart arse?

Google has so far managed to keep a lot of goodwill but has grown to reckon it is nearly ready to challenge the giant in open warfare. The Google troops have been drawing up. Its PR is working overtime. It has been working on an operating system that will eventually draw swords and charge into open battle against Microsoft.

Others are overlooking the battleground wondering where to gain the best ground. Twitter is growing fast and has failed to achieve satisfactory integration with anyone huge as yet. Nokia is moving in with its own approach and is ready to exploit anything it can get away with, operating systems and applications. Well Microsoft have been having a go at phone systems lately, so blood is ready to be spilled. All the other big computer names are also out there setting up position in the applications market the hardware market or the clever gadget markets.

Unbelievable sums of money are involved and whether or not the consumer comes off best in the end is questionable. The giants are on their mettle. Their products must be good and have perceived value for money. They must work, be useable and be flexible and reliable. On the other hand all the marvellous developments will quickly become outmoded and out of date. Competition is healthy but obsolescence is a problem in the strive for bigger and better products that will out do and out sell the competition. At least with the one major provider the consumer got some continuity and didn't have to open the wallet so often.

So as the phone giants produce more phones that perform like computers , the computer giants expand their applications to be more useful and part of everyday life, the social networks find new ways of harnessing the youthful consumer, the manoeuvring for battle advantage is taking place. Not content to make a shed load of money they all want to take over the world and its doings. Tin hats on chaps... we're going in.