I think if Amazon wants to form an assault on Google/Apple, they'll have to go it alone for the most part. Partnering with Microsoft means jumping in bed with someone who has their own competing platform. There's no way in hell that MS execs would watch as Amazon/Android platform move ahead of WP7 without doing something stupid to try and impede their growth.
I think Amazon is the kind of company who could put together a good competitor to the Google Apps product. The only area I don't see them coming out on top is search. Although, we shouldn't forget about A9. Amazon has some tremendous strategic advantages in that they own the largest online retail presence in the world. I use the hell out of their shopping and comparison apps.
Keep in mind that your Average Joe cares about a radically different set of problems than you and I. They're less concerned with "checking in" and more concerned with getting the best deal through the easiest possible method for the things they buy day-to-day. Apple understands this. That's why SJ pushed so hard for the $0.99 price point for music in the iTMS, and why Apple licensed Amazon's "1-click" patent.
For the huge number of consumers that are still using feature phones, an Amazon offer with tightly integrated retail tools is a very attractive proposition.
I think Amazon is the kind of company who could put together a good competitor to the Google Apps product. The only area I don't see them coming out on top is search. Although, we shouldn't forget about A9. Amazon has some tremendous strategic advantages in that they own the largest online retail presence in the world. I use the hell out of their shopping and comparison apps.
Keep in mind that your Average Joe cares about a radically different set of problems than you and I. They're less concerned with "checking in" and more concerned with getting the best deal through the easiest possible method for the things they buy day-to-day. Apple understands this. That's why SJ pushed so hard for the $0.99 price point for music in the iTMS, and why Apple licensed Amazon's "1-click" patent.
For the huge number of consumers that are still using feature phones, an Amazon offer with tightly integrated retail tools is a very attractive proposition.