Google warns that Microsoft bid to buy Yahoo could damage Internet development
By Davey Winder in Editorial
Posted in Standards, Blog, Google, Internet, Microsoft on
I guess it was only a matter of time: before Microsoft made a real effort to buy Yahoo, and once it did before Google started stamping feet and shouting that it just isn’t fair. Considering that Google has something like 80% of the search market as far as the UK is concerned at least, compared with around 10% combined for Microsoft and Yahoo, it does rather stick in my craw when it starts complaining about ‘unacceptably dominant positioning’ to be honest. Yet that is exactly what Google is doing, warning anyone within earshot that if Microsoft buys Yahoo then it will create a dominating email and instant messaging monster which could jeopardise future development of the open standards Internet.
Of course, similar concerns have not come to the fore when Google itself has been on the acquisition trail to strengthen its position as a provider of online services. Of course, it is just the kind of puff and bluster to add fuel to the fire after the US justice department announced it would investigate (for antitrust reasons) any deal between the two online giants.
If you ask me it just confirms that Google is worried that Microhoo could become the first serious competition to its own position in the marketplace, the online advertising marketplace that is. Funnily enough, that is one area of unacceptably dominant positioning that Google has been suspiciously quiet about…
Rated: 100% (1 votes)
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Who needs another set of web standards?
By Davey Winder in Editorial
Posted in Standards, Internet on
So, BSI British Standards is expected to publish the first set of specifications regarding web standards in the first half of 2008. Well whoopy-doo, that’s all we need, web design by committee.
The publicly available specification (PAS 124) is to be developed by a BSI steering group before being released to the public for comment. Here’s mine in advance: we don’t need another set of standards, even from the BSI, to determine and govern effectiveness, function and appearance of websites thank you very much.
To be honest, the very thought of a BSI standard that covers, as I am led to believe this will, such things as Search Engine Optimisation, Accessibility, Usability and Branding within its remit sends a shiver right the way up and down my spine.
Mike Low, Director of BSI British Standards, calls is an “important first step towards a framework for best practice in web standards. The PAS will enable organizations and their suppliers to better understand the need for web standards and consequently provide more structured web solutions.”
I’m not so sure. There are enough functional but boring, boring, boring business websites out there already, without giving lazy designers and unimaginative executives yet another excuse to stamp all over the innovating creatives.
Rated: 100% (2 votes)
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