How Google benefits from an Android open source project that keeps growing its market share

Recent ABI research data show that the market share of smartphone platforms is divided into two Android camps: Google-featured Android, which is primarily used by members of the Open Handset Alliance, by Google Play support and services for Android) and Android Open source program Aosp (i.e. Android that can be used for free by any manufacturer as the operating system of its own phone).

Google's Android system accounts for 65% of the market share, while AOSP is 20%, ahead of iOS and Windows Phone. Many people think that aosp20% 's market share is a potential threat to Google, but I think Google has found a viable strategy to enable AOSP to provide better support for their Android projects.

At least aosp20% 's market share is a small advantage for Google. Because when the system upgrades, for those who choose to use AOSP Android system users are very likely to use Google's Android system. If the 20% market share belongs to BlackBerry's BB10 or Microsoft's Windows Phone is obviously more detrimental to Google.

Wouldn't it be better for Google if everyone was running under Google Play? The answer is yes. The Android Open source project is like a good safety net, attracting a large number of handset manufacturers and users into the Android ecosystem rather than choosing other similar systems. This is a very good goal for any company, especially for technology companies. Because it ensures that Google gains from Android.

Of course, not every Android user is as important to Google as it is for the Mountain View (Mountain View) company to be comforted by the aosp of major handset makers in China and India. But it is certainly a matter of concern if AOSP, along with the higher ARPU (the average monthly income per user, the metric used to measure the business income of telecom operators), is an issue of course, but it is still not an imminent threat.

As Google strives to gain a foothold in the smartphone market, the nature of Android's Open source gives Google a powerful weapon to deal with the market and attract handset makers. And now the market share of Android has reached the 85%,google has no need to aosp such a glittering logo to highlight themselves. Now the AOSP play a more important role. It can constantly attract users to Android. If a company doesn't want to join Google and Google Play, it can also use an open-source Android, although that means re-joining many apps and copying software like Google Play. But this seems to be the default option, and if you reject Android from Google, instead of being an Android opponent, use open source Android instead. AOSP is still very useful to Google and will remain a very important part of its strategic deployment. It is important to note that the latest UI design for Android L will be part of the open source program.

Like Starbuck's "Short Cup", Google does not want to be too famous or its products are too widely used. As Google continues to add more features and API interfaces (including related services and applications) to closed-source Google Play, manufacturers who want to use AOSP need to devote more time and developers to creating the environment they want. Amazon is preparing to add the technology to the Kindle Fire series tablet (still not deciding to join the Fire Phone). The dying Nokia engineer handed over to Microsoft a Microsoft cloud service-based AOSP platform program, but was rejected by Microsoft, it seems, Nokia's X family will be forced to join the Windows Phone program.

It's not just Google that's developing Android, but it's definitely the most attractive and the best solution for you. AOSP ensures that Android is still the second most attractive option in the mobile operating system and makes it easy for users to upgrade to a more appealing Google Android system when they are ready (at least Google believes).

Google not only controls the Android version of Google Play, which occupies the largest market share, but also ensures the continued success of the second platform based on AOSP.

Original link:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2014/08/05/ how-google-benefits-from-the-increased-market-share-of-the-android-open-source-project/