Although Google rarely allows a blunder to make it past beta testing, Google TV does not occupy the usual, poised for domination, niche of most soon to be released Google products. There is no real consumer demand for Google TV, no gaping hole in the technological coverage provided by current electronic capabilities. Although Google is on point about the necessity of internet capable TV, the changing modes of TV access have left consumers without the need to be tied to the couch to watch their favorite programs. Mobile devices and computers have left the family room TV sad and lonely. Google is taking a big gamble betting that people will be willing to buy an entirely new unit or box top set that locks them into traditional patterns of TV watching. But, in spite of this and other barriers to entry to be discussed below, Google is still intent on entering the TV space. Let’s find out why, and talk about the odds that they actually succeed.

Advertising Dollars

One key factor Google is betting on is timing. Although many bloggers are pointing to the fact that more homes than ever now have broadband access, this is not the timing I am talking about. Interestingly, Google chose to release Google TV Advertising months before Google TV was even mentioned. Advertisers have already had the opportunity to utilize TV campaigns and reap the rewards of Google’s newest advertising system. Now that advertisers are comfortable, and dependent, on the system, it will make a convenient segue of advertising dollars into Google TV. Yes, I’m suggesting that Google has developed Google TV primarily as a new source of advertising revenue, and it shows. Unfortunately for Google, despite their stat of the art advertising, the technology of Google TV is going to have a hard time succeeding against the slew of alternative products soon to be available.

The Competition

Hopefully Google has thought inside the box when considering its competition - xBox that is. The Microsoft owned company has recently unveiled their newest game system upgrade, the Kinect. Although company representatives point to kinetic energy to explain the name, the Kinect is fully internet capable as well. Oh yeah, and it offers the option of voice or motion command. This means that a user, if feeling so inclined, has the option of pointing to the movie they want to watch, literally flipping through a photo album, or playing music simply by saying “Play music”. Microsoft is also competing by offering the Kinect accessory at $150 dollars, a price point that will require Google to reduce their own markup. Also soon to unleash new versions of their popular products are Wii and Playstation, each with their respective game altering technology offered alongside internet access. The changing patterns of electronic usage suggest demographics already familiar with these systems may be just as comfortable connecting to the internet through a game oriented external box as an internet oriented one.

Fully Capable You Say?

Google TV purports to be the easiest ”fully internet capable” TV option. Not so, I say. Perhaps Google has forgotten the first fully internet capable device…the computer. At last estimate, approximately 10 million people happily, and fairly easily, use their televisions as display for their computers and voila, a fully internet capable TV. Of course, there is the obvious drawback of switching between displays to enjoy both the internet and TV programming, but for those on an efficiency budget it’s a more than reasonable compromise.

You might also assume that Google TV will be compatible with other electronics. However, with Google sticking its foot in its mouth recently in reference to Apple, and their ongoing feud with Facebook, it’s unlikely that interoperability between the different companies’ products will be offered. Fully internet capable TV is a bold claim to be making, and one that could provide potential pitfalls if proven wrong.

Google TV: Great for Advertising Dollars, Not So Great for Consumers

Usually business savvy and aware of its reputation, Google’s current feuding with other companies and revelations of data collection are tarnishing their pristine image. Consumers who were diehard Google supporters may not be there when Google hawks its newest ware. Google does not have a built in fan base (in hardware) and does not have any significant technological advances to convince consumers to buy their product. Consumers, with a wide variety of options to choose from, could easily backlash against the search engine giant in response to bilking for marketing dollars.