4 ms·

Google's purchase of AdMob now looks like a great exit by AdMob and horrible purchase by Google

timr 17y ago
That announcement had shades of Microsoft for me: "you want to compete with us? OK, we'll just re-create your only profitable product using our proprietary internal APIs. Our version will be more integrated, faster and better than yours, and you can't do a damn thing about it, because we own the platform." It's a bit of a stretch to say that AdMob was a "horrible" purchase, though. They had to do something to move into the space. The only question is whether the iPhone is dominant enough in the market to make Apple's strategy successful over the long term -- if Android takes over the mobile market, Apple will only have a monopoly on a niche ad network.
rogupta 17y ago
FCC still hasn't approved the purchase. I'm hard-pressed to see any anti-trust issues now, but imagine if it got blocked? It will be tough to compete with iAd.
- nolanbrown23 17y ago
  FTC, not FCC
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
Keyframe 17y ago
"Steve: We tried to buy AdMob but Google came in and snatched them from us cuz they didn't want us to have them" All I can say is LOL! sorry. edit: forgot to say it's a quote I saw on arstechnica live coverage.
- philwelch 17y ago
  If that's all you can say, you really don't have to post it here. We tend to value more useful comments than that.
  - Keyframe 17y ago
    Well I thought a direct quote from Steve Jobs about them trying to buy Admob and google not wanting them to buy them before they do was of strong value as a reply on a comment about Admob. But hey, I'll move from your lawn.
chime 17y ago
Usually Google buys talent e.g. Etherpad or technology e.g. Keyhole. In case of AdMob, Google didn't purchase the technology or people but rather the customers and goodwill.
- njharman 17y ago
  Sounds like they purchased the opportunity to deny Apple the talent/tech/customers/goodwill.

timr 17y ago

That announcement had shades of Microsoft for me: "you want to compete with us? OK, we'll just re-create your only profitable product using our proprietary internal APIs. Our version will be more integrated, faster and better than yours, and you can't do a damn thing about it, because we own the platform." It's a bit of a stretch to say that AdMob was a "horrible" purchase, though. They had to do something to move into the space. The only question is whether the iPhone is dominant enough in the market to make Apple's strategy successful over the long term -- if Android takes over the mobile market, Apple will only have a monopoly on a niche ad network.

rogupta 17y ago

FCC still hasn't approved the purchase. I'm hard-pressed to see any anti-trust issues now, but imagine if it got blocked? It will be tough to compete with iAd.

nolanbrown23 17y ago
FTC, not FCC
deleted 17y ago
[deleted]

Keyframe 17y ago

"Steve: We tried to buy AdMob but Google came in and snatched them from us cuz they didn't want us to have them" All I can say is LOL! sorry. edit: forgot to say it's a quote I saw on arstechnica live coverage.

philwelch 17y ago
If that's all you can say, you really don't have to post it here. We tend to value more useful comments than that.
- Keyframe 17y ago
  Well I thought a direct quote from Steve Jobs about them trying to buy Admob and google not wanting them to buy them before they do was of strong value as a reply on a comment about Admob. But hey, I'll move from your lawn.

chime 17y ago

Usually Google buys talent e.g. Etherpad or technology e.g. Keyhole. In case of AdMob, Google didn't purchase the technology or people but rather the customers and goodwill.

njharman 17y ago
Sounds like they purchased the opportunity to deny Apple the talent/tech/customers/goodwill.