Google down, Microsoft down: The only way is Apple?

Just to make a change, it’s been a tough week for some of Apple’s big rivals in the tech world this week in terms of financial results.

The latest figures from Microsoft this week showed a slight fall on its bottom line, with quarterly profits down in Q4 2011 from $6.63bn to $6.62bn. While the drop is minimal, there was a six per cent drop in sales of Windows – showing the imminent release of Windows 8 will be well timed.

Reviews of Microsoft’s new smartphone operating system, Windows Phone 7, were pretty Marmite, but it does show Microsoft offering a genuine alternative to the, ahem, similar user interfaces adopted by Apple and Android smartphones. It will be interesting to see how it develops this year, but it surely can’t bomb in the same way the awful Windows Mobile did.

Over at Google, the policy of trying to be good at everything and failing by buying everything in its path and putting ‘Google’ on it is still failing to reap dividends. Well, that’s a bit harsh – but the fact is its stocks dropped 10 per cent after its Q4 earnings failed to set Wall Street alight.

With Facebook seriously upping its game in terms of trying for advertising revenue, and showing no signs of falling in popularity because of it, it will be interesting to see what Google throws at the wall this year – and what sticks (if anything). Android is clearly catching on in terms of tablets, but what Google can make out if this in terms of profit remains to be seen.

Recent times have also been hard on Nokia, RIM (BlackBerry), HP, Sony Ericsson and Motorola in terms of phone tech, so 2012 could be make or break for several of them – although many would argue that consolidation could be a good thing.

Next up will be Apple’s results, around January 24. Much like Google this time out, Apple missed targets in October which saw its shares fall eight per cent. However, with really strong smartphone and tablet sales, this should act as a get out of jail free card at worst this time around. Expect a strong, and bullish, announcement from Apple next week.