Android has grown more than I could ever imagine, and the biggest player responsible for that surge is Samsung. They now represent about 40% of the Android devices sold, but is that too much? If you're Samsung, it's probably not enough, but if your Google, you might be worried that Samsung could start flexing their muscles and attempt to change the entire Android strategy. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal suggests that Google fears Samsung and is hoping other manufacturers will step up their game to keep Samsung in check.
Rumblings of Google's fears started last fall when Andy Rubin praised Samsung for their successes, but also said that Samsung could be a threat if they gained more ground. At this point in time, Samsung has sold 200 million more Android smartphones than the next biggest Android manufacturer. As you know, Google makes their money on advertising and with every Android device sold, it's more dollars for Google since apps such as Maps and YouTube are installed on every Android device. The fear is that Samsung could demand a greater share of this revenue. According to WSJ, Samsung has received more than 10% of the revenue so what's to stop them from wanting more?
“There is a threat from Samsung to Google that is real,” said Rajeev Chand, a managing director at boutique investment bank Rutberg & Co. “Over time, Samsung will be able to leverage its market-share dominance to negotiate better terms from Google.”
Last year when Google bought Motorola, the speculation as to why was patents, but Motorola was never really all that successful with their patents. I always wondered why Google would invest for that sole reason? It's obvious now that they want to take a little control back especially if things turn tumultuous between Samsung and Google. Things seem to be lining up that way. Last December Motorola stole Brian Wallace, Samsung's vice president of strategic marketing. With the new X phone coming out this summer, expect a heavy dose of advertising, and Google has the money to do it. It's this advertising that put Samsung over the top in the first place.
It's never a good thing for one company to dominate too much. What makes Android special is the amount of choices from different manufacturers. As an Android fan, I want all OEMs to be successful, but in the real world there always has to be a King. Now it's time for Google to reign in the King and make sure things don't get out of control.
source: wsj
No disrespect this article is totally ridiculous. It’s a SAD CONCLUSION when GOOGLE can’t be happy for the success of one of it’s MAJOR VENDERS on a open source platform. Let’s get straight to the point android or Google ain’t shit without the main folks US the consumers the people who decide what smartphone they want on a purchase by purchase basis. And guess what GOOGLE will never be shit without Samsung. Samsung has earned it’s top spot for the android platform they have innovated and made products people want and need. Samsung offers the BEST software and features solutions on any smartphone period it’s the consumer who drives this market and dictates it’s overall direction. It’s Samsung who provides all the needs catering to those needs ie removable batteries, expansion with sdcards, and great camera features, and other services directly by Samsung. Face reality it’s not Samsung’s fault that you can add up Htc, Motorola, Lg, Sony and Hauwei’s market share and it still doesn’t add up to Samsung plain and simple other manufacturers are a total joke. Google has gotten to big for it’s britches trying to force crappy solutions to manufacturers who all kiss Google’ butt and the problem is Samsung doesn’t kiss Google butt they don’thave too. Google forces the crappy chrome browser on Nexus line devices and now Motorola devices message ”NOBODY LIKE YOUR CRAPPY CHROME BROWSER. Google trying to force cloud storage usage trying to insist manufacturers to not use sdcard with that sad boring Nexus line devices with no internal storage [8] gb be serious. Now Google trying to force manufacturers to build handsets that the battery can’t be removed why would they do that??? ? pretty clear to me that Google has forgotten where this platform has come from and what the hallmark of android was when the platform began and that was sdcards on devices with removable batteries that concept started day one people have content that they want and need to keep to themselves not in the cloud. Clearly Google has lost it’s way trying to Bogard manufacturers for their own well being. They purchased Motorola for it’s own well being competing with their own venders who does this they are biting the hand that feeds them. Google better realize that they meaning the platform in general are only as good as the manufacturers and it’s purchasing customers. People purchase Samsung products 90% of those buyers are people who have been owners of past devices covering over three years. What does that mean ”Those people understand what they need and why they need it and will always purchase Samsung products” 213 million smartphones sold in 2012 meaning Samsung has a strong following and if Google wants to remain relevant they better leave Samsung alone because they will not be bogarded or intimidated by Google they didn’t and haven’t backed down to Apple so they won’t back off Google either if they want start any issues. I applaud Samsung for it’s innovative products and excellent services on devices as well as the industry leading software and features solution on all it’s handsets. Google and it’s boring dull Nexus line devices as well as that useless purchase of Motorola means nothing to the users of Samsung devices. What Google better start doing is focusing on the other manufacturers who are not pulling their weight for the platform including their Nexus line of devices and demand better service and creation from those places. Kinda hard to demand something when you’re part of the problem. Samsung Android users won’t allow Google to think they can become apple and dictate anything. Market share is the end result of success that’s well deserved Samsung can take it’s 30 to 40% customers and build it’s own platform and those folks will follow. What would happen then??? Down the toilet it would be. Google is bluffing and plain and simple are greedy and better be happy Samsung saved it’s platform. You never bite the hand that feeds you in the business world. Plain and simple Samsung is android and they deserve that standing like it or Samsung is android.
You’ve got some pretty f*cked up notions in this little article of yours (which is easily twice the length of the actual article with absolutely no organization).
1. Google isn’t “forcing” people to use Chrome on Android. They’ve just transitioned from the pre-Android 2.3 browser, to Chrome. You still have the OPTION of going with any of myriad of different browsers such as Firefox, Opera, Dolphin, Skyfire, etc.
2. Google isn’t forcing “manufacturers to build handsets that the battery can’t be removed”. With the exception of the Nexus devices, they leave those decisions entirely up to the OEMs. You can’t blame Google for HTC’s decisions to use unremovable batteries in some of their devices.
3. “They purchased Motorola for it’s own well being competing with their own venders who does this they are biting the hand that feeds them.” You couldn’t be more wrong. Google purchased Motorola in it’s entirety for patents. It later sold off the set-top box side of the company, among other pieces. It only makes sense for Google to retain the phone portion, since that’s one of their main focuses. And all the Google execs have flat out stated that they aren’t trying to alienate other manufacturers with the Motorola acquisition. Hence the latest Nexus coming from LG.
4. “Google trying to force cloud storage usage trying to insist manufacturers to not use sdcard with that sad boring Nexus line” Wrong again. Many people within Google have stated that the move away from SD cards is not because they are trying to push “cloud storage”, though that is a side effect. They don’t want SD cards anymore because it forces them to use tech that is literally decades old (fat 32) and doesn’t efficiently make use of space. Why have 2 (or more) different areas where all your crap is stored on your phone instead of one single, contiguous space, much like the iPhone/iPod?
5. “And guess what GOOGLE will never be shit without Samsung.” You’re blanket fanboy statements are hilariously wrong. Android wouldn’t be where it is today without *ALL* the manufacturers that use the OS, AND people like Matias Duarte or Andy Rubin, who have heavy influence as to the look and feel of Android. Check your “facts” you stupid fanboy.
I can’t even address the rest of your “comment” because it’s just so absurd with no factual evidence or relevant info. Just another fanboy parroting what everyone else says.
Every time I see a response from Mr. Yarrell, I wonder just how many times a week he wakes up and looks in the mirror and believes his own BS? He spouts off some pretty big statements, never very organized about it might I add and acts like he knows all there is to know…..
For starters, the part about the SDCard, there are other formats they could use other than Fat32, there is NTSF if they so wished to use it. But you have to use something that is accessible by all platforms to make file sharing and transfers able to be done. But that isn’t the real excuse that was actually given by Mr. Duarte, he said quote on quote that SDCards made it to complicated for the AVERAGE user. Which we all know he is full of BS himself. People have had multiple Hard Drives, Memory Sticks, Floppies, you name it…. For a very very long time now. So that was more than lame of him to openly state. Especially with how Android and the WELL written Apps can recognize external storage well enough to make smart use of it. Which is one of the biggest selling points for Samsung ( And now Sony, even ASUS ), the Nexus line will never compete with Samsung.
But yes, Yarrell is like the next big wind warning to turn into a hurricane. Just another big bad case of a wind storm blowing over the topics posted here and he himself has no real clue other than he loves to see himself in a light no one else does…..
And my opinion on the entire article is that I’m glad Samsung has their success, but they wouldn’t have had the platform if it had not been for Google creating Android for them to do it with. I fear more of Google becoming the Tyrant than I do Samsung anyway. Google is still far bigger than Samsung and holds more power than any one company currently. They’re not showing any signs of slowing down either.
The multiple hard drives thing is easier on pc then android. While it isn’t that bad on android, I can see his point. Most devices don’t come with a file explorer… Though they could build one into android…
No it’s not any easier, with the PC you have to open it up, install them or have them added in at the time of purchase. All you do is pull the back off of the device, slide it in and you’re done. There is nothing complicated about this at all. That’s a silly excuse there, sorry. I’ve been in computers since the 80’s, SDCards are not complicated at all.
As a matter of fact, the FAT system they use on it, 32 or even if they did NTSF doesn’t matter much if you’re using a Class 10 SDCard. Popping a card in is too easy. The only thing that could make it any easier is if the OEM’s would finally put the slot on the SIDE of the device with a door that would close over it. Like they do on some of the Tablets already.
Plain and Simple! You offer a device like the Nexus, all sealed up and no SDCard options, then you try to compete with Samsung and Sony ( Since they’re starting to keep SDCard Slots on theirs now ), you’re already losing the battle. The technology to add that one little slot onto the device is not that costly either. So that isn’t an excuse that can be used. The GS3 as expensive as it was at first to get, out sold every single device on the market.
Granted, that was not it’s ONLY selling point but when you have a 16, 32 and 64GB internal with the option to add up to 32GB more on it? Eh, that does become a damn good decision maker right there for you. People are not stupid, they know how to add the card, they have been doing it long before these smart phones came along and still desire it. Not to mention, SDCards are far more reliable than Cloud. If you are listening to music, it will not stop working because of a interruption due to low connection signal. With Cloud you can lose signal and be stopped from what you were doing over the Cloud System.
I can think of a ton of reasons why not having SDCards on devices like this is a stupid way to go. If you want so much to have a locked out, sealed up, proprietary device? Go with Apple!
They can get a file explorer for free btw!