Apple and Microsoft validate Google's "Cloud First" strategy

Here's one that can be put in the category of unintended consequences: Apple's iCloud and Microsoft's Azure offerings validate a Google, "Cloud First" strategy.  This was the thought that popped in my head as I listened to commentators, Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley discuss Apple's iCloud and Microsoft's Windows 8 Azure backed features on the TWiT network's Windows Weekly podcast.  This was not the topic of discussion, but featured prominently in that discussion,was talk of the features added by each company that leveraged their  cloud services.  Without saying it explicitly, both these companies acknowledged that Google's cloud first approach is the future, or at a minimum is very important.  Both iCloud and Azure represent "significant" investments on the part of Apple and Microsoft.  These investments are rumored to be in the billions of dollars.  Neither company would spend this kind of money and risk cannibalization of their current offerings if they did not think a cloud first, or cloud based desktop, was a valid strategy (or a competitive threat).  Google's advantage in a cloud first future is that all Google's applications are built on this model from the ground up.  Google's applications do not require "cloud extensions" or "new" cloud services.  There is no desktop iTunes client or Office application that needs to be updated to support the cloud.  Google applications are in the cloud now, and as the saying goes, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Apple and Microsoft are rushing to match or surpass applications like Google Docs, GMail, Google Music, and others.  The upside for consumers is better online applications.  The upside for Google is it legitimizes their "cloud first" strategy.