Hardware and search: Escalation around the mainline war

As the boundaries of software and hardware continue to blur, the four giants of the technology industry-Apple, Amazon, Google (Weibo) and Facebook-have been moving into each other's fields in recent years. In the 2013, the war between them will also be upgraded around two main lines: Hardware and search.

The Giants, including Google and Amazon, are now interested in strengthening the hardware business to boost user loyalty, expand control over software services, and generate revenue. This move, all the competition for Apple again upgrade. Apple has been making its devices compelling by developing more proprietary software.

Google, which spent 12.5 billion dollars on Motorola Mobility, plans to let Motorola move to release the latest Android device to help it crack down on the smartphone market's leading iphone. Amazon, which has launched the Kindle Fire into the tablet market, has been testing its own phone.

At the same time, the four companies believe that search is a great opportunity to keep users and gain profits from them. Although Google has been dominating the web search market for years, rivals are now trying to weaken the internet giant with mobile search on smartphones and other devices, as well as a large number of search services recommended by friends.

Apple has launched an attack on Google using voice services Siri, which can answer questions like weather conditions, race results, and so on via the iphone or ipad screen. Next year, Apple will continue to search for new data to support Siri and allow it to answer more questions.

In a meeting held this September, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, repeatedly mentioned that friends can provide useful answers. Mr Zuckerberg says Facebook will expand its search capabilities in the future.

From E-commerce to network advertising, science and technology industry, the four big Bang also in some other areas to launch a fierce collision. Greg Sterling, an analyst at Opus Gregg String, said, "They are all entering the market where the other party dominates." Attracting developers has become a Highland battle because developers can help make their services truly different. ”

The following is the outlook for the four big technology giants entering the 2013:

Apple

Apple must prove that the company was able to defend in 2013.

Rivals, from Samsung Electronics to Amazon, are eyeing the company in California State Cupertino. Over the years, Apple has defined multiple product categories through the iphone and ipad.

These competitors have made some success. In the third quarter of this year, Apple's share of global smartphones dropped to 15%, down from 23% in the first quarter of this year, according to data from IDC, the market research firm.

The handset business is only one business that Apple must pay attention to. Android tablets are also gaining market share in the confrontation with the ipad. To defend its territory, Apple, which has become the most valuable company in U.S. history this year, recently released a cheap ipad Mini to compete with a series of small tablets already on the market.

But so far, Apple has been taking defensive tactics. But Apple will consider launching an attack on the user's living room. Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, has highlighted Apple's "keen interest in the television business", which has been testing high-definition TVs and discussing alliances with cable companies in its set-top box business.

Whether Apple is ready to release a new product at prime time next year remains unclear. An Apple spokeswoman has said the company does not want to discuss future products or plans.

For other new areas, focus on search and Siri. After Apple's misfortune to enter the map services market this year, the company is still investing in its voice-aid services, providing games and other active information to users. Earlier this year, Apple dug up a search executive William Stasia (William stasior) from Amazon.

Google

Google has been aggressively expanding into new areas this year, not just to Google and its main rivals, but also to cable TV service providers and wireless carriers.

Next year the web search giant will work harder to ensure that its search engines, YouTube video sites and new services, such as Google's wallet, can be used by consumers without being affected by bad Internet speeds or Wallet by rivals.

That means speeding up new services that Google has launched this year, such as home high-speed Internet and video services tested in Kansas, to be replicated in other regions after 2013 years, to explore potential ways to control access to the wireless Internet through alliances, and to make smartphones and tablets via Motorola Mobility, That would give Google more say in the services it runs on its devices. Google is also expected to develop more networked home devices that are supported by the Android operating system.

At the same time, Google is taking some defensive steps because it is closely watching its main rival in the Internet industry, Amazon and Facebook. Google has been working with retailers to help them reach consumers through search engines against Amazon. Next year, Google is expected to help retailers launch "service on the same day" to online buyers.

To counter Facebook, Google has been making search engines, Gmail and other service users sign up for Google + services. Google + is like Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to share news, photos, videos and other content.

Google must decide next year whether it will ally a car maker with an unmanned car that uses Google software, or more directly involved in the manufacture of the product. In addition, Google will also release Google Glass to expand the reality of smart glasses.

Facebook

For Facebook, 2012 was undoubtedly the year of the IPO. Next year, Facebook will focus on how social networking services will continue to shift to a mobile-centric business and what the company's smartphone experience would be.

Over the past year, Facebook has rewritten its mobile apps, launched mobile advertising products, and promoted mobile apps in new Xindu, such as messenger services.

Rivals and insiders want to know whether or when Facebook will enter the hardware market. Zuckerberg has previously publicly denied reports that the company is developing Facebook phones, calling it "the wrong strategy." But sources close to Facebook say Facebook is working closely with smartphone makers such as HTC to participate in the design of mobile phones.

A Facebook-supported device that could carry a revised version of Google's Android operating system will help Facebook promote the use of its mobile apps and collect more data from users. So far, both Facebook spokesmen and HTC have not been able to report this.

Facebook is expected to launch its own search service in 2013. This December, Facebook released a new mobile feature that helps users find nearby businesses based on information from friends and social networks.

Increasing E-commerce services is becoming increasingly important for Facebook, which is why the company recently launched its gifts service. Facebook's E-commerce platform-allowing users to send products like Starbucks gift cards to their friends-will pose a threat to Amazon, especially as Facebook has added more retailer partners.

Amazon

For Amazon, the company is likely to launch its rumored Amazon smartphone this year.

Sources familiar with the Amazon plan say the Seattle network retailer has been working with Asian suppliers to test a smartphone that is expected to be released to the market early in 2013. Amazon smartphone will benefit from the company's Kindle Fire HD device experience, as well as the fast-growing app store. At present, Amazon application store has more than 60,000 applications.

Such a device should be able to reduce the market share of Apple's iphone and challenge the products of Android smartphone makers such as Samsung Electronics. Amazon's smartphone could be a cheap, low-margin product because it expects to benefit from selling e-books, games, apps, and promoting Amazon's E-commerce services on mobile phones. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's chief executive, has adopted the strategy on tablets, saying that Amazon's tablet is a Bezos, not a profit generator.

Amazon's smartphones also put pressure on physical store retailers to nibble on their online retailing business, as Amazon has been encouraging users to go to physical stores for price comparisons and then choose to shop online. So far, Amazon has not been able to cover this report.

Amazon is also currently fighting with Apple in the tablet market. The Kindle fire has gained some critical compliments. Amazon is expected to launch its new low-cost tablet next year, further introducing users into the Amazon system.