As part of its antitrust law against Google, the Department of Justice has proposed remedies that would separate Android and Chrome from Google. This is because a court case in August 2024 found that Google was abusing its monopoly power.
I agree that Google is abusing its power. Google should be severely penalized. Google is not your friend or “nice guy.” It’s simply another high-tech company that happens to control the software that powers seven out of ten mobile phones in the world. It needs to be kept under control. Once again, my opinion is just as important as yours. Nothing. The Justice Department and a judge are managing the case.
android and chill
One of the longest-running technology columns on the web, Android & Chill is a Saturday discussion about Android, Google, and technology in general.
I also want everyone to understand that at this point, this carries the same weight as the last time we heard that Google was being disbanded. Until that happens, after all appeals and alternatives have been exhausted, it is business as usual.
If that happens, Android will be dead and you’d be better off buying an iPhone.
android loses
Google doesn’t directly profit from Android. That’s not to say that using Android isn’t profitable for Google, but the costs of building, maintaining, hosting, and deploying a free smartphone operating system are astronomical, and the profits from it are zero. .
Google makes more money because Android exists. Android is a vehicle for Google’s free apps and services, used to build comprehensive advertising profiles for everyone who uses them. Having this kind of customer data means that even though Google charges a lot of money for advertising services, it still has a lot of customers. Every name you can think of is advertised through Google, from tech products to food and clothing. Google’s ads work better than any other company, in part because billions of Android smartphones are used every day.
When you put all the finances together, Android ends up being a net profit for Google. But it’s not for anyone else.
Companies that can maintain Android won’t want that
There are probably a few big tech companies that can keep Android up to the point where it remains competitive. I can think of one. It’s Microsoft.
Apple or Mozilla might be able to do it, or IBM or Oracle might be able to do it, but Microsoft has both the development infrastructure and the experience to “control” huge software projects that are deployed on thousands of different hardware configurations. there is. And Microsoft probably doesn’t want that either.
Microsoft wants Android (and Chrome) to become obsolete. Because owning Android (and Chrome) raises the same antitrust concerns as Google owning Android. Microsoft knows a thing or two about them.
I don’t think Apple will be able to manage Android very well. Because Android has a completely different philosophy when it comes to software. Even if it were possible, Apple would like to see Android retired.
Other small companies with ambitions like Mozilla can’t afford to do it without billions of dollars from Google. Those funds would come with conditions that would prompt a new Justice Department investigation.
Android phone manufacturers can’t and shouldn’t do that.
At least on the surface, the obvious answer is Samsung. That’s the worst option.
Ask any software developer who has seen the Tizen source code if Samsung can maintain and develop Android. You’ll probably laugh and say “no.” Software is not an area where Samsung is particularly strong.
Samsung is a great mobile phone hardware manufacturer. Misguided people will say that Samsung doesn’t innovate, but Samsung single-handedly made Android what it is today and is driving its growth because the phones it makes are so good. Being a Korean (not Chinese) company helps build some credibility, but people know the Samsung name and know that its products aren’t likely to disappoint.
Samsung is struggling on the software side. Android smartphones running One UI are the company’s best software product, with another company doing 90% of the work and helping with the final 10%. Samsung could invest billions of dollars to hire the right people and change its culture, but it won’t.
Motorola and OnePlus can’t afford to develop and maintain Android. The U.S. fears China more than monopoly, so if Chinese cell phone manufacturers (yes, I know Motorola is technically one of them) try, they will face immediate backlash. Sho.
After all, Google is a company that needs to continue to care about Android if it is to continue to get better. Google is now “evil” in many ways, but it is very capable when it comes to running software projects like AOSP.
If the incentive to use Android is taken away, Google will probably not want to do so. All Google wants is Android with Gmail, Play Store, Google Play Services, and all the other Google features built in. Take them away and Android becomes a burden rather than an opportunity.
