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# Apple and Amazon: Competing Ecosystems
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/apple-and-amazon-competing-ecosystems/
- Published: 2012-03-22T09:22:59.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-30T08:16:59.000Z
- Description: Contrasting two members of the Gang of Four.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Platforms, Strategy, Amazon, Apple, Apps, The Age of the Platform

Check out this [excellent piece in HBR](https://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/03/amazon%5Fvs%5Fapple%5Fcompeting%5Fecos.html?ref=philsimon.com) by [Ron Adner](https://twitter.com/ronadner?ref=philsimon.com) on two of the Gang of Four. To me, the key piece is this:

In the rush to match the pieces, most of Apple's rivals have missed the critical connections that draw the entire ecosystem together into a coherent whole. 

In a word, *yes*.

## Simon Says

Apple understands the power of the platform, the consumerization of IT, and the criticality of end-user experience. Of course, it's not alone. Amazon, Facebook, and Google also get it--hence the collective success of the Gang of Four. Note, however (as the article does), that the model behind the Apple and Amazon platforms are very different. This underscores a major point in the book: there's no one right way to build a platform.

Ecosystems are key here. Even if RIM develops sleek new product or the Nokia/Windows 8 phone rocks, are their apps any good? Ecosystems are arguably just as important as the products they support.