Android - Is it just a means to an end?

I read this article on Gizmodo the other day. It got me thinking as to whether the argument holds up.

Now it is obvious that Android gives Google a massive platform for using its AdSense & AdWords services, as well as pointing people toward making Google.com searches, which all make them money.

And of course, if in the process of making money for themselves it takes market share away from companies in competing markets, which is true for Android (think Windows Phone and its Bing search, iOS and its iAds platform) that’s a bonus.

But is it fair to say that for Google, Android is just a defensive measure taken to keep control of the mobile marketing space? I think not. From what I have seen, Google like to innovate, create, and improve. I may be being too optimistic, but could Android be a prodect motivated from a genuine desire to improve the market for smartphones, that has subsequently proven to be a very viable model for business.

Now of course, being a very smart bunch of people, Google must have seen the potential for it’s ability to generate revenue, I’m not denying that. I just wonder if this is a sort of chicken and egg situation - the two go hand in hand. The better an option Android is for the people, the more it is adopted, and the more it is adopted, the more it beings in for Google.

Product without a business strategy? Not at all. It is an unusual business strategy, but then, Google had a very unique situation to be able to link it’s existing markets like that, and took that opportunity.

Anyway, they are my thoughts, I realise this isn’t my area of expertise, but I don’t like to think that all business decisions like this are born out of pure greed.