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0 points290830113977783y ago0 comments

Android has immeasurable value, by way of ensuring Google didn't get locked out of the mobile ecosystem. What happens to Chrome's market share without being a default on one of the most used operating systems in the world? How about Google's traffic data for Google Maps without billions of devices they own reporting in every 60 seconds?

Android's value may not be easy to measure, but it's worth in building and maintaining Google's moat positively boggles the mind.

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4 comments · 1 top-level

scarface743y ago· 3 in thread

Google is locked out the ecosystem of people who actually have money to spend. How else do you explain how they are willing to pay a competitor $14 billion+ a year?

It doesn’t matter that Android is running on a bunch of $100 phones where they are getting a low ARPU. The Oracle trial showed how little profit came from Android.

Who do you think business would rather target iPhone users or Android users?

RestlessMind3y ago

Not a fan of Google, but

> How else do you explain how they are willing to pay a competitor $14 billion+ a year?

Obvious that they have more than >14B+ value extracted out of their competitor's ecosystem per year? I am not sure if you are aware of this or not but when Apple screwed FB with all the anti-tracking changes, there was one notable exception - the browser. Guess who benefited the most? All the ad dollars, which used to be spent on FB and other user-targeting based ad products, are now being diverted to search ads. Just read Google's earnings report - YT revenue declined while Search Ads revenue shot up.

> Who do you think business would rather target iPhone users or Android users?

Think 2-3 steps ahead. How do businesses target users? Via ads in a significant way. If they cannot target iPhone users anymore based on user data, what do you think they will use instead? The next best thing they know - Search Ads. Btw this is why you will Apple and Amazon's ad revenue surging as well.

scarface743y ago

What I am saying that it is at most a Pyrrhic victory that Google only managed to statistical capture the 30% poorest demographic and still has to pay its competitor to keep from being locked out of being able to reach the highest income demographic.

On top of that, Google doesn’t even compete in the worlds largest cellphone market - China. Sure most phones run “Android”. But without any Google services.

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wizofaus3y ago

I have money to spend. What's your suggestion as an alternative to Android that isn't an Apple product (something I have no desire to have any more of in my life)?

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