Will WWDC Show Us How Apple Is Different From Google?

To the casual observer, the paths of tech giants Apple Inc. AAPL and Google Inc GOOG GOOGL may seem to be converging more and more. Whether it be smartphone hardware, mobile apps, streaming music and video, Internet search, navigation, advertising or any number of other segments, it seems like Apple and Google are constantly stepping into each other’s territory.

While the two innovative technology leaders are competing for market share in many of the same areas, there are clear differences between the products and services they each provide.

This year’s WWDC conference will likely provide even more distinctions between the two companies in the following five areas.

Mobile

Updates to Apple’s iOS are likely coming at WWDC, and they are rumored to include a new dual app viewing mode for iPad, a new keyboard and updated to voice-recognition assistant Siri. While Google’s Android phones are currently the global leader in terms of market share, Apple’s advantage lies in the iPhone’s reputation as the most iconic and innovative smartphone device, something that Apple will likely be trying to spotlight at WWDC.

Related Link: How Does Apple Stock Respond To WWDC?

Smartwatches

Apple will reportedly be presenting a new software development kit for its fledgling Apple Watch device at WWDC. The smartwatch market could end up being the next great global technology device frontier.

The Apple Watch has certainly gained more publicity and generated more excitement than Google’s Android Wear watches, but Apple still must prove its watches’ necessity and merit to avoid the Apple Watch ending up nothing more than a fad. That process continues this week at WWDC.

Music And Video

With Google’s YouTube leading the way in streaming video content, Apple is attempting to counter by taking a leading share in streaming music. Apple is rumored to be revealing its new streaming music service this week at WWDC, a potential revamp of Streaming Beats that would cost users $9.99 per month.

Mapping

Google Maps is the gold standard in navigation, and the launch of Apple Maps in 2012 was infamously horrible. Apple is expected to announce its newest update to its Apple Maps app at WWDC, but Apple Maps needs some major innovation to make up for lost ground to Google Maps.

Mobile Payment

Google recently announced Android Pay, its mobile payment platform that will be replacing Google Wallet and competing directly with Apple Pay. After the initial success of Apple Pay, Android Pay now shares a great deal of similarities with Apple’s payment system.

The world will be watching WWDC this week for any news on Apple Pay, which could include the implementation of an Apple Pay rewards program similar to the programs provided by credit card companies.