Google’s vow to keep Android open source may hurt its bottom line

“Google’s Android smartphone operating system is a tremendous
success, so much so that the company gives it away and still makes
money. Google open sources its operating system freely to handset
makers like Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola Mobility in a push to
drive Android adoption that will bolster revenue in adjacent search
businesses.

“In the U.S., Google’s Android market share has more than
doubled as of the third quarter to 57 per cent, according to data
firm IDC. Meanwhile, Research In Motion’s Blackberry has given up
share and rollouts like HP’s WebOS came to the market
dead-on-arrival. Even Apple’s iOS has lost share since 2010. “

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