In the news: - Google has launched two major platforms within the past week - Last week Google introduced OpenSocial for the web and yesterday their mobile plat

In the news: - Google has launched two major platforms within the past week - Last week Google introduced OpenSocial for the web and yesterday their mobile platform Android - Both platforms have the same approach: both open, easier for developers to make applications, developers will be able to reach a lot more potential users much easier and faster, Google is constantly looking to add new partners (major ones) that would also support these platforms. From Before: - In the 90's everything seemed to be closed and platforms were mostly used to set standards and create lock-in situations and exclude the competition (Microsoft was the pro here). --> the exact opposite of what Google is doing now! - The web has changed many things and creating such lock-ins are not possible anymore, at least not the same way as before We Know: - Google's mission and business model requires them to have access to all the information on the web - Facebook and other sites have proved that they can accumulate vital information and have them within their walled gardens, and exclude Google from accessing them - Google knows they can't own all the information themselves or have exclusive access to them - But they also know their strengths, if information is available to everyone they believe they are better in getting that information, so other companies will not be scaring Google by also having access to those info Question: - with the new platforms and the new approach, is Google simply making sure they'll continue to have access to all the information out there, OR are they in fact doing more behind the scenes that would allow them to take advantage of their platforms and set standards the way companies did in the 90's, will they be able to create lock-in situations again?