Microsoft has coughed up $240 million for a tiny share of Facebook – strange to some considering Facebook doesn’t generate $200 million in annual revenue (some Wall Street analysts place the Facebook value at $15 billion).
What did Bill Gates get? A stake in the Future - otherwise know as Social Networking.
MySpace is still the best in show, but Facebook is eyeing 50 million active users (both of these sites are an advertiser’s dream come true).
Google owns YouTube and DoubleClick (they were considering a stake in Facebook but Microsoft has obviously beat them to the punch), but they lack SN power.
So… can you see the future? Google needs Social Networking – where will they get it, how will they compete with Facebook or MySpace? Can Facebook lead, or will they always play second fiddle to MySpace? What is Microsoft’s plan aside from on-line advertisements inside Facebook? What new platforms, models, or applications will Microsoft deliver?
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28 comments:
Google and Microsoft are very good companies. As far as taking facebook, microsoft and google may still not be able to beat myspace and its owners. Myspace will always beat facebook because it has more viewers.
I don't think that Microsoft or google will dominate the future. I also believe Myspace will always been number one to facebook, even though i believe facebook will still continue to grow.
I think that large companies buying shares of these social networks will impend the never foreseen end of the hype of these infamous websites. People aren't going to want to go there when there is nothing but advertisements on every page. It's already annoying enough to go to myspace only to find that the entire main page is completely dedicated to the hot new movie coming out, with all these stupid pop ups jumping out of the ads and making stupid noises as you mouse over them. As long as Microsoft doesn't plan to sell it's share of facebook to advertisements, then it shouldn't be a big deal. It's a social network, not a business. They need to keep it that way to keep anyone's interest.
google and micorsoft are two very prominant companies, but as for one taking over and ruling the web, i dont think that either will become bigger than the other. neither will be able to beat out myspace or its owners, even tho facebook will grow.
It's hard to compare Google and Microsoft. Bill Gates Microsoft makes computers and computer products, where as Google is an all internet base set up, with marketing and promoting. If the question is which do I think will own the future? Microsoft. Because in this capitalist world it's kill or be killed and Google will give it a hell of a run, but eventually Bill Gates Microsoft will take over the future.
I think in order for google to get in the social network battle, there gonna have to come up with there own site that will compete against Myspace and Facebook even though they are pretty far behind right now. I also believe that Myspace will be ahead of Facebook in the social network sites for a while. Facebook will be able to attract new people with the addition of Microsoft, but Myspace has been around longer and is still one of the most viewed sites out there. And with all the money and power that Microsoft and Google have, it is very possible that one day they will be in absolute control of the internet.
I think Microsoft is looking to the future why else would the invest so much money into Facebook. I also think Microsoft could get a hands up on Myspace because they are a software company they can upgrade and make Facebook easier to use and also incorporate it with their Xbox and other things Microsoft has their hands in.
I think that social networking is a huge key to the future and that microsoft has the right idea in getting on board with this new trend. I think that myspace will always lead this market though, because it has more viewers and it's not likely for people to switch from myspace to facebook. Even if facebook does get more viewers, myspace will not lose any. I think that microsoft plans on using facebook for advertising primarily but not ust hit and miss ads. I think they will use this network to learn about people so that they can target more specific audiences and really change the way they advertise.
Social networking is likely not going to be a fading trend. Networking is getting easier, whether it's for business, friends, play, like interests, or a number of other things, and sites will always be used for that to continue. Really, I think that buying a share of Facebook was a good move on Microsoft's part.
The advertising space on sites like Facebook and Myspace is indeed prime. Millions of people check these pages, and they check them often, giving even rotating adds a good bit of attention. What's puzzling to me personally is the nature of Myspace's advertisements. Most of the main spot ones are stupid, simple things like "Get a free ringtone," or "find your crush." It seems to me that more worthwhile companies would move into those spots. Either way, Facebook is taking a different track. Most of their funds right now are made by buying features, paying for "gifts" for other users, or just straight donations from different people. Really, this seems like a much better money making plan, or at least it's being managed better. Still, I highly doubt that the purchase will give Microsoft an edge over Google.
While Microsoft bought a networking site, Google controls a good bit of the internet's traffic as well as has a mass of site programmers constantly developing new features. Odds are if it becomes too much of a problem to compete with Facebook, they will just develop something similar for the sake of competition. Myspace isn't as adaptable as Facebook just now, and the customization options are different, though either way my guess is the two sites will soon even out as far as users go.
Microsoft has a great deal to gain by getting involved in Social networking. Microsoft has spent literally billions getting inot the console market, essentially only staying in that game (with its chronic Xbox 360 failures) by spending more on these repairs than any other software company in the world could ever hope to.
Google took over Youtube and a website I've never heard of, Doubleclick, and as far as Youtube, harshed the party. Think of the money Google spends removing videos of copyrighted material. Think of Microsoft spending millions, possibly billions, shifting social networking to what they believe it should look like.
So, my opinion is that for the future, giants like microsoft and google only seem to see dollar signs and thier presene can't really add to these experiences on youtube, myspace, or facebook.
I am sure Google will come up with some type of social networking in the future, survival of the fittest sets in. Facebook will always be second fiddle to myspace just because facebbok seems more intended for college students as for myspace just about everyone is one. As for advertising Microsoft is a competitor just like Google so they will spend money to advertise for what the future holds with their company. As for what Microsoft will deliver in the future they seem to have that mentality of newer, bigger, faster is always better.
I don't think that Google and Microsoft will be the future with facebook. Myspace will always be number one because it was around before facebook. Myspace in my opinion is also alot easier to use compared to facebook. Also myspace has now started using some of the same things that facebook uses also. Myspace will always beat facebook
I think Google will eventually take over the entire world. haha.I think they will eventually gain enough momentum to overtake Microsoft.Even, as facebook continues to grow I don't see them catchig MySpace. Because it is generally geared towards college students that somewhat limites their following. While MySpace is able to attract members of all ages.
Many people have problems with big companies and the way they do business. This example of Microsoft putting money into facebook, is just another way of Microsoft trying to make money. I think this a smart move for a company. If I had some money to put into a growing company, it would be a smart move to put it into social networking. I don't know if facebook will ever be as big as myspace, but this is a move that will have great rewards. I don't know what Google will do to compete with Microsoft, but they must think fast.
Unfortunatly, (or forunately) I think that mocrosoft will oen the future. I said unfortunatly because I think that microsoft needs to give others a chance to grow their empire (it still annoys me that they are competing with Apples Ipod phenominon). I do say that it is sort of fortunate though because Microsoft has shown me so far that I can trust them to make good business decisions and I wouldn't want to be there having deals being made without me being able to trust them.
I believe that Google will eventually gain control of MySpace because microsoft's intention on controlling Facebook. I don't think Facebook could ever overtake MySpace just because the target audience of Facebook is college students even though high school students have been allowed onto the network. But MySpace is what people think when they think social networking. It's a household name. As far as what each company will do with the social network scene, i believe that Google will fully integrate MySpace with YouTube. Microsoft could use it's Xbox live feature with Facebook for more user inerface friendly online gaming. Otherwise i think both companies will bring something completely new and original to the social network scene.
Even though I am not an active user of Facebook or MySpace I know an awful lot of people that are. My friends for example can actually stay on MySpace for hours commenting on people and finding more things to gossip about and doing everything there is to do on MySpace. I personally think that it's a waste of time but I can definitely tell that it's not just something that is going to decrease in popularity some time soon, or in the future. MySpace is just getting bigger and bigger and especially now that some people like Tila Tequila and the girl that sings "Bubbly" have gotten so famous from it now I'm sure that even more people are just going to start becoming a part of it so that they can try to become famous. I already know tons of pretty girls who are saying to themselves if that ugly girl can be famous just from stupid MySpace then why can't I? Hence another member. I too share this opinion but I think that it's sort of a scam that they so easily got famous from being on there, then again, neither of them are very talented. But this is why my personal future prediction reads that MySpace is only going to get bigger in the years to come and that if that's a problem for Google or any other company, then sadly they don't stand a chance.
Google is obviously attentive to its future; however, microsoft seems to have made an interesting bold move with Facebook. Google may need to figure out a way to possibly buy a share of Myspace; that is unless too many companies have dipped thier hands into Myspace. Microsoft could give Myspace and Google heavy competition because just like Myspace, Microsoft has huge crediablilty for thier approaches to music. Google will most likely need to create thier own idea for social networking, for the battle already seems to be in tow with Microsoft/Facebook and Google. Microsoft plans can fathom and change Facebook, yet we still have to remember that Myspace has a network of 200,000,000 as compare to the 50,000,000 Facebook has. Microsoft could possibly turn Facebook into a national base only, and keep americans there main focas to a point until they gain enough power over Facebook overall to expand its horizons internaionally.
Google hands down will own the future in the technology race. Social networks i do believe will dissolve in the near future. Google last time i check had stock shares running up in the $700 plus figures. Microsoft is too one sided and they want their stuff their way or the highway. Google on the other hand will be so rich they will buy out the next trends and own microsoft.
I believe that Microsoft will own the future of Social Networking. If they already are looking to invest in something like facebook then they are looking to be around for along time, and looking to make tons of money. I also believe that facebook, even though i have both that and a myspace, will always be second. The thing is with facebook for a lot of people its a college thing. When i first wanted to sign up there really wasnt a way without a college email address. Now they have expanded that but on myspace you dont have to be in any certain network to see peoples pages. Like for me i cant see some others pages because they are on a different school network so i have to add them as a friend in order to see what they have on there. For myspace if their page isnt private you can see everything and anything that they allow you to see. I think microsoft did the buying of facebook to just make more money. Not like Bill Gates needs any more of that.
I believe that both google and microsoft are very large coorporations, so large in fact that i dont ever see the other completely taking over the other. They are both important to media right now and I honeslty dont see it as one is bigger or more important than the other one.
Actually, I think Google will own the future, because NOT everyone uses Facebook, Myspace whatever, but EVERYONE does use Google. What is the first place you go for info? GOOGLE...
I think that Myspace will always be number one. My space has a huge viewing audience. Myspace has been accepted so rapidly into various cultures. Microsoft and google don't even stand a chance. Facebook will always come second to myspsace.
I think that google and microsoft will both do great in the future like they both have been doing so far. i think that myspace will always beat and be more popular than face book because it has more viewers, but face book will continue to grow over the years just not as good as myspace.
Microsoft and Google in my opinion have a good chance of dominating the future. I mean,look at all the different things being discovered through Google. Me personally, I go to Google for all my searches w/out a doubt. everyone I know uses Google too. My friend go to Google just to log onto myspace and look how far myspace has came. although there is a lot of advertising through Google thats how most people sell their products to there consumers.It's a great door opener and I don't see neither slowing down at this time
I believe that Google and Microsft are taking a huge step to dominating the future but I do not think that one will grow bigger than the other. As far as facebook getting bigger than myspace goes, I believe that facebook will always play second best to myspace. Even though facebook is getting more and more viewers, myspace offers so much more such as backgrounds, and music on your pages and this seems to be more appealing to it's users.
Microsoft will own the future. Microsoft has been around longer than Google. With the fact that Microsoft has been around longer, it has experienced all the new advances in society, and it is still on top just shows it is not going anywhere. Microsoft is solid from its experiences. It is a hard toss up with myspace and facebook. Myspace has been around longer, but facebook is catching up to speed quickly. Facebook is easier to use than myspace, and it is not swarmed with advertising.
I don't think that Microsoft or Google will own the entire future. I believe that both the companies know what they are doing and how to handle the business aspect. Myspace and Facebook will both continue to grow, however i think that there will be yet another trend for social networking that will arise in the future. and who is to tell there won't be another company to own the future.
Julie Melton
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