5 reasons why Google and Airtel sounds like a deadly combination
The recently announced Google-Airtel deal should sound a serious alarm to companies like Yahoo!/MSN/AOL and every other player who wants to tap the growing Indian Internet market. The deal will give Google access to 1.9 million users as well as an opportunity to upsell it’s office product suite.
Look at these stats:
- Airtel is the number 1 private broadband and telecom operator – has 1.9 million broadband users (close to 60% market share?)
- Google is the most preferred site in India.
- Google has the capability to localize
As John Yunker points out “The greatest reason why I think Gmail has a good shot at popular usage is Google’s expertise at localizing the platform for developing markets. I don’t expect Microsoft to localize Outlook for Bihari, Tonga or Swahili anytime soon, but Google is well on its way toward supporting these languages on its main platform.”
- Broadband usage is riding north, and is expected to reach 20 million by 2010.
- Google’s closest competitor, Yahoo doesn’t have the suite of applications that Google has (online office apps) and even though Microsoft is working on live office, it wil take them years to get their act together – which obviously means that Google, has lot more agility to execute their India strategy compared to others.
More than the consumer industry, I strongly see small businesses getting hooked onto Airtel’s broadband and Google office apps (who doesn’t want free office suite?). What do you think?
Who do you expect BSNL to get cozy with? Y!/MSN/AOL?
About the author - Ashish Sinha is a Startup Mentor/Product Strategy Coach, and the founder/chief editor of pluGGd.in.
He has launched/managed couple of products (consumer as well as enterprise) in US and India, and now consults with startups/small businesses on their product/media strategy. He can be reached at: ashish (at) pluGGd.in [+91 98452 06443]
But...
So what does it mean for individual customer? How will it change the way I use Google?
Rishi
The deal means more traction for Google..more consumers. It may not change the way you use Google, but the deal will introduce Google (and it’s services, especially the online office suite) to new consumers…
Right now, the biggest challenge for Google in Indian market is to dethrone Y! from number 1 position..and the organic way to do is to piggyback on vehicle (in this case, Airtel) which has max reach.
Well, Airtel and Google is good combination, but yet with rise in Broadband, but how would they leverage in getting Mobile Internet and GPRS connection to match that of 2.5G and 3G mobile circles.
Well, the tieup sounds only when they reach Mobile users with Internet, I still feel Indian telecom circle is way behind the ones in UK and US.
Wait fro Vodafone to change the scenario, well Reliance is prowling on the Wimax and hope its takes a big leap and change the Indian Mobile Internet accessibility.
How will it effect the mobile market?
Will there be slew of new stuff for consumers on their mobiles?
@Ashish
Your feed does not have the full post. It would be good if you can enable full post!
@Sri: google has also tied up with airtel for mobile services…i think its a multi pronged strategy to capture the indian audience
Well, this deal is not for mobile segment – this is for Broadband users.
As Tarun pointed out, Airtel and Google have another mobile partnerships and onviously Google is going to use the partnerships to push few products..Gmail/GTalk/Mobile ads etc.
@Ramjee – Though I publish full feeds, the problem is everything gets curtailed after “Continue Reading” section. Let me see if I can play around with that.
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