Comments on: Google Admob Deal Might Get Blocked

By: Luke Beales Android App Reviews

Luke Beales Android App Reviews — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:45:08 +0000

They will have fair competition and either way, Google will come on top as advertising is one of the things they do best :)

By: Mr. Doubtfire

Mr. Doubtfire — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:35:07 +0000

Thank you for this piece…you’re right on point. As John mentioned the key factor is Apple’s recent mobile acquisition. One of Gs largest competitors purchase of one of Admob’s largest competitors. Considering that ads on apps have played a major role in AdMob’s success, it is telling that key to Apple’s decision to buy Quattro was the opportunity to monetize that same inventory. If that’s not fair competition I’m not sure what is.
I’ve also read that various groups are concerned with Google’s growing visibility into our web activities. There certainly might be a privacy concern…but doesn’t that fall outside the FTCs purpose and authority?

By: James

James — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:52:43 +0000

You said it perfectly, Yeath.

Not only that, but the whole idea of harful monopolies is just myth/propaganda. Until a company starts using threats, violence or lawsuits to actively prevent new companies from entering into their line of business, all of the regular market forces will keep them in check. The fact that someone COULD potentially enter their line of business is just as effective as actual competition in driving quality up and prices down.

If you look closely at every instance of a monopoly that was truly bad for consumers, you will find government prohibitions and regulations to invariably be the cause. Anti-trust laws, rather than doing anything to protect consumers, just drive up costs an inhibit innovation. But for some reason people think it’s a good idea to punish success.

By: karl

karl — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:41:28 +0000

I agree with the author’s assessment that there’s no need for the government to take anti-trust actions in this case. google has gotten where it is, not by using its size to control the market, but by providing continuously improving services that consistently out perform competitors (competitors that are always only a click away). There’s been no attept made my google to lock anyone into their ecosystem, and this aquisition is just them expanding their core business of advertising.

Pre-emptively blocking the aquisition because they might use their size to control the market is rediculous. How bout we wait until google does something malicious before we punish them? So far all their guilty of is being really good at what they do.

By: John

John — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:59:24 +0000

Don’t forget to add
“Apple buys mobile advertising company as part of iPhone and Tablet plans. Apple has spent $275m to acquire mobile ad firm Quattro Wireless….”

By: Yeath

Yeath — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:53:42 +0000

This is ridiculous, the whole concept of using government to protect us from monopolies is a giant contradiction. We need the a giant monopoly to protect us from monopolies? Give me a break