Power and Influence by the Numbers
Five tech giants have broken many records, from having the highest number of downloads and market valuation to boasting an astronomical number of active users.
Facebooks market value is $600 billion, and its advertising revenue is $28.17 billion. As of 2017, it laid claim to 2 billion users, and three of its products are used by 1 billion monthly users.
Google boasts a market value of $830 billion. Its search engine has 86.87% of the worlds market share as of October 2017. Some 19 billion downloads occur on Google Play, and its YouTube service has 1.5 billion monthly active users as of June 2017.
The computer giant has a $1 trillion market valuation. Its Mac Business software has a $25 billion run rate. Americans like the company 64% of Apple product owners come from the U.S. As of 2017, there were 100 million active Mac users.
The other computer juggernaut has an estimated $800 billion market valuation. As of March 2018, it boasts $7.9 billion in cloud sales. Their Microsoft Office 365 product is used by 120 million business users as of October 2017. 2017 also saw some 400 million users actively using Windows 10.
Amazon also has a market valuation marked at $1 trillion. 76% of online consumers shop on the site, and 57% of Amazon searchers buy on the platform. 19% of Amazon Pro merchants also make around $1 million in annual sales.
The view from the top may be grander, but the responsibilities and struggles these companies may face are also magnified.
Facebook is reeling from data breach scandals. Cambridge Analytica collected personally identifiable info on almost 90 million Facebook users. While they launched an ad campaign saying it will do more to keep you safe and protect your privacy, they quickly lost $80 billion in market value
Apple is seeing user passion wane. Less than 40% of users would care very much if Apple ceased to exist. Their recent innovation of removing the headphone jack was roundly criticized, and it cost them potential business. 70% of Android users surveyed cited the lack of headphone jack as the main reason why they wont switch to iOS.
Google is not immune to struggles, as theyre paying fines left and right. The European Commission fined the giant for $5 billion in July 2018 for unfairly pushing its apps on smartphone users and thwarting competitors. They were also fined $2.8 billion for giving its shopping service search priority over competitors.
Amazon is also struggling with its fresh grocery service. While its known for having excellent customer service, its not been able to maintain this reputation through grocery deliveries. This inconsistency is causing Amazon Prime member to question the companys service promises.
Compared to the other fours issues, Microsoft is soaring high. The company isnt dealing with any major fines, data privacy snafus, or customer loyalty struggles.
Despite their struggles, the ambitions of the worlds five most powerful tech giants are aiming higher and exploring uncharted territory.
Facebooks AR platform will turn an ordinary building into a virtual street art installation. High-powered graphics will also turn everyday objects into otherworldly experiences. The platform is set to deliver accessibility to experiences normally too expensive in the real world.
Googles AI efforts are driven by the realization that computers should adapt to how people live their lives. Googles automated Gmail responses have seen usage rates reach beyond 12 percent, while YouTubes machine-learning-powered recommendation engine serves users with videos based on prior viewing habits, which increases viewership by an average of 60 minutes per day per year.
Apples inviting customers to visit its retail locations to partake in Today at Apple sessions, which not only teaches customers to use its tech but also encourages art, music, photography, and design exploration. Customers are also encouraged to visit town square-like Genius Groves, which are designed to be a community-building gathering space.
Amazons partnering with Bank of America for its merchant lending program. It already offers several financial services including Amazon Pay, Amazon Lending, and Amazon Cash. Because the companys been named the most trusted tech company and boasts over 100 million Prime customers its in a unique position to start offering checking accounts.
In May 2018, Microsoft announced the Azure Blockchain Workbench, a set of tools for developers to create blockchain applications within days instead of months. Rather than designing its own blockchain platform, the company is realizing opportunities that exist in assisting developers. The company is currently open to partnerships with organizations to advance the Workbenchs capabilities.
Five companies are shaping the future of tech and its role in consumers lives, innovating and growing despite serious stumbles and missteps. These five companies are Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft.
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The Ambitions of the World's 5 Most Powerful Tech Giants ...
