Re: [Sheflug] Google Offers Free Voice Calls via Gmail

[Robin Wood <robin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 26 August 2010 19:15, David Smith <sheflug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 1:10 PM, Bob Mottram <fuzzgun@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> On 26 August 2010 11:44, Richard Ibbotson <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> Not much sign of the antitrust and EU crowd coming over the horizon
>>> yet in the way that they did with Apple and Microsoft.  Shouldn't be
>>> long now.
>>
>> Even though I'm a Gmail user, there's really no need for Google to
>> keep bundling stuff into the mail client.  Bundling VOIP and social
>> networking stuff leaves them vulnerable to antitrust, and isn't very
>> much different from what Microsoft did with browsers and media
>> players.
>
> The major difference being that MS had 90% of the desktop OS market
> (number made up off the top of my head) and was abusing its dominant
> position to dominate other markets. Gmail does not have anywhere near
> that take-up (and arguably it is much easier to switch to a
> competitor's email offering, than it is to switch your desktop OS, so
> there is a bit less 'lock-in' involved).
>

The lock-in is that most people won't want to change their email
address once it is created, sent out to friends and used to sign up to
loads of services.

Robin

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