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> Why would google not promote its own services first and foremost?

Same reason why it was wrong for Microsoft to put Internet Explorer and later Windows Media Player in Windows: It is anti-competitive for a monopoly to utilise its market position to gain an edge into other market.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Microsoft_compe...

> further advance their products would be ignorant

I think you meant "foolish." The word "Ignorant" doesn't work in that context.

Ignorant:

1) lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated 2) lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular

More "foolish" or "misguided" in that context.



That's a misunderstanding of the Microsoft situation. The antitrust issue in that case was tying: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tying_(commerce)

With the notable exception of Google+ (which has now been relaxed), signing up for one google service did not force you into any other google service or product. You can access any google property on IE or other browsers. There is no anti-competitive compulsion in the way that Microsoft forces IE upon windows customers.


Semantics aside, my point is why would you not attempt to gain every bit of leverage that you can. There are no indications here that google is breaking any antitrust laws.




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