Case Study: Microsoft Still The Leader In Computer Operating Systems

1. Microsoft: Microsoft is still the leader in PC operating systems, along with Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows Vista being the lead operating systems for approximately 90% of the world’s PCs, Google Android and Apple’s iOS. Although they are the leading PC operating system, they have struggled with many of their efforts, including smartphone hardware and software, mobile computing, cloud-based software apps, and its Internet portal. Although, Microsoft’s offering, Bing, has about 2.5% of the search market (Laudon & Laudon 2014).

Apple: Apple is the leader in mobile software applications, all thanks to the popularity of the App Store for its iPhones. Apple’s revenue, in 2011, totaled over $108 billion, up from $65 billion

The significance of mobile applications, app stores, and closed vs. open app standards to the success or failure of mobile computing is that present day mobile users are very fond of applications. Generally, applications enrich the experience of using the device and allow for so many tasks and activities to be done all through your mobile device. When all that you need is on your mobile device, there is no requirement to have a desktop PC anymore. Applications also distinguish a company’s offerings from their competitor’s, giving them an edge when wanting to stand out in the marketplace (Laudon & Laudon 2014).

4. The company and business model that I believe will prevail in this epic struggle is Google. Google has many positives rather than negatives, and these positives include that it is a well-established company, it is entered into all business markets, and it also bet on of the most time relevant feature of the mobile computing market. In being a well-established company, Google is able to outdo and even go up against Apple and Microsoft. As Google is entered into the three basic markets of mobile computing, including hardware, operating system and the application stores (Laudon & Laudon

The company and business model that I believe will prevail in this epic struggle is Google. Google has many positives rather than negatives, and these positives include that it is a well-established company, it is entered into all business markets, and it also bet on of the most time relevant feature of the mobile computing market. In being a well-established company, Google is able to outdo and even go up against Apple and Microsoft. As Google is entered into the three basic markets of mobile computing, including hardware, operating system and the application stores (Laudon & Laudon 2014).

5. The difference that would be made to a business or to an individual consumer if Apple, Google, or Microsoft dominated the Internet experience is that consumers would be forced to purchase from only one company and only use one service. This would affect the quality and price(s) of the products and services provided by that one company, as there would be no competition. Without any competition, the company is not forced to make any changes or improvements to their products and