The problem for Google is that they're wholly dependent on their near-monopoly on Internet advertising, possibly the world's least rare commodity. (Can you imag

The problem for Google is that they're wholly dependent on their near-monopoly on Internet advertising, possibly the world's least rare commodity. (Can you imagine what a company that controlled a similar share of TV or print advertising would be worth?) It's easy to imagine a left-field competitor, like Google itself ten years ago, stealing a substantial chunk of their revenue. They're also vulnerable to a platform owner like Apple, RIM, or Microsoft choking off access to its customers. Either scenario would be apocalyptic for Google.