My guess is: Apple, by controlling the technology environment, will be more expensive but able to assure a more reliable platform that will appeal to the affluent masses; Google, along with other Android players, will offer a broader range of applications, customization, and lower prices, but at a cost of platform hiccups and a greater need for do-it-yourself fixes, which will appeal to techies and new entrants. Many real and wannabe macro-economists like to debate which economy will grow the most in the next 20-30 years: India or China? Singapore or Taiwan? Sounds like Mac versus PC? MORE >>

The study looked at two key competitive moves — lowering of prices and innovation. Key finding: Most executives gather information from news reports, industry groups, annual reports, market share data, and pricing data. A recent Global Survey by McKinsey, How Companies Respond to Competitors (subscription required) has some interesting observations. In the following, I highlight some of the key findings and provide commentary on how this relates to technology companies operating in a downturn. Both if these are highly relevant to technology companies. Why is this? MORE >>

In a McKinsey article (subscription required), they talk about pricing in a downturn. Pricing is always a challenge, and more so in a downturn. Demand decreases, price sensitivity increases, competitive pricing often declines and the cost of sales increases, ultimately lowering margins. So, rather than just lower your prices, what can you do? Watch for shifts in price structure: It can be easy to watch the sales organization create unique deals to make sales happen, which have an impact on changing the way pricing is done. I really like McKinsey. MORE >>

This data can be very interesting when looking at key geo-specific issues such as housing prices. You may have suffered personally during this downturn. You may suffer more because it’s not going to be over soon. However, things are different in this downturn – different from the last one we experienced in 2001 – 2003. Because of these differences, we can take advantage of at least opportunities we now have that we didn’t have before. Opportunity #1 – Better data and data analysis tools   . zip codes. Opportunity #2 – More ways to reach the prospect. Social media. Mobile devices. MORE >>

consumers have paid a price for there being multiple platforms — limited roaming domestically and internationally, more expensive handsets, inability to move from one carrier to another, and devices locked into different networks. I have to admit that I was disheartened to see the article in the New York Times, “Group of Magazine Publishers Is Said to Be Building an Online Newsstand. It appears to be a complete platform of content, shopping site, digital rights management, and distribution to the rumored Apple e-reader due out next year. This strategy backfired. In the U.S., MORE >>