Google Inc. (GOOG) this week lost out on what could be a lucrative search deal with Verizon Wireless (VZ). The search engine giant lost to rival Microsoft Corp. (MSFT).
Sure, that must’ve been a blow. But was the blow as big as everyone assumes? There’s a good chance the answer is no.
Microsoft reportedly will pay Verizon up to $650 million to secure the rights to the deal over the next five years – about twice what Google was willing to pay. Meanwhile, Google already is in Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA phones, so it’s got a lot of market share anyway. And as one writer points out, who knows how the wireless market will look in five years? Maybe Google didn’t lose after all.
