[l3db3tt3r]

I think you miss the point of the google play store. Certainly, Samsung could fork and offer their own storefront, but they would lose some of the core Google applications. Take for instance Google maps, we have already seen what happens when a company like apple dumps maps for an alternative..

[glasshead969]

But Google did eventually release their own maps app in the App Store. If Samsung forks android and create their own store front, will Google ignore all the users Samsung has which is comparable to or even more than what Apple has.

[l3db3tt3r]

I don't think Samsung has the same 'fanboy' base as Apple does. And as AndrewDucker pointed out above, HTC was the dominant android name some time ago, who's to say another hardware giant like Sony or LG isn't the next android giant.

Furthermore Samsung isn't in the software business, its in the hardware business. Unless they find some giant profitable reason to fork and diversify into becoming a software business also, I see no reason why they would not simply keep riding the innovation coming out of google.

[OGinparadise]

Exactly my point. Google cannot afford to, high end users (usually those with money) buy either iPhone or Galaxy. Google can ignore them, or cut their nose to spite their face, but Google will lose in the end.

[OGinparadise]

Like Apple ? If you are going to lose it, bite the bullet, better now than later. Google is about to tighten the screws and Samsung et al will be on the losing end if they don't act now. They are no friendships or handshakes, Google has been fearing Samsung for a while and vice-versa, knives have been sharpened already.

What happened to Apple and maps? Nothing, a bunch of bloggers were pissed, iPhones still selling like hot cakes, Samsung did their part but still. Now Apple has their maps and all data goes to Apple, not Google. Soon enough they'll get better, meaning Google loses. It's in Google's interests and they'll pay to have Apple, and Samsung to run Google Search and other G apps. But would you develop if Samsung Galaxy was out of "Android" ? Only time will tell.

[kkowalczyk]

I don't think that maps fallout is fairly characterized as "bunch of bloggers were pissed".

Look how iPhone vs. Android sentiment changed over time.

At first the majority opinion was that Android was capable but slow and unpolished.

Around 4.0, the majority opinion was that Android was getting closer to iPhone but not quite there.

The most recent sentiments are: Android is starting to outclass iPhone in some important areas (Maps, Google Now).

Obviously, it won't suddenly cause everyone to stop buying iPhones and start buying Androids, but if things continue, the tide will turn.

Simply stated: Google is out-executing Apple on software. Press, bloggers and everyone else are noticing that and people do care about what The Verge writes or that people like MG Siegler go from "Android is crap" to "Android is really, really good".

So yes, things like Maps and Google Now are important and hard to re-create by a company like Samsung (or any company, period). That keeps Samsung (at least for now) from forking Android and trying to squeeze even more revenue out of it for themselves.

Google's future control of Android will depend on how many important and hard-to-recreate pieces they can implement, and given that they are cloud services company first, they are well positioned to execute on that.