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Why Google invests heavily in mobile platforms like Android [Business Daily (Kenya)](Business Daily (Kenya) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Global technology firm Google recently held a media day in London to showcase the status of the business. The Business Daily's Herbling David was at the event and talked to Richard Turner, the director of Android Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Partnerships at Google on the sidelines of event on the company's current and future plans. ------------------------------------- What was Google's strategy in buying Android in 2005 We acquired Android because of the talented engineers and great technology that they have. Android is good for the web, good for Google and good for consumers. It makes it easy and fast to access the web and because it is free to manufacturers, it helps provide consumers with a wide choice of smart devices, spurring competition and innovation. More than 1.3 million Android devices are activated each day globally, and more than half a billion devices have been activated worldwide. How many phone and tablet manufacturers use the Android operating system It is hard to pinpoint a precise figure Android is open source and can be freely downloaded and used by anyone. We know there are hundreds of Android devices in the market, delivered by a global partnership network of around 58 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and more than 329 carriers in 169 countries. How does Google benefit from Android given that it is open-based hence freely used by equipment manufacturers Android devices provide such a great web browsing experience, which means that users tend to perform more searches, and that in turn creates more revenue opportunities for Google. What is the estimated number of applications available at Google Play and how many global downloads do you register annually In September, we announced that more than 25 billion apps had been downloaded from Google Play worldwide. There are currently more than 700,000 apps and games available on Google Play. What are the opportunities for techies to earn from the apps store App developers make money from in-app ads, paid app sales, and in-app sales. Our in-app advertising business is competitive and doing very well, which obviously helps developers and gives people a great opportunity to build and sell locally relevant apps and services. On the app sales side, we've launched a lot of great tools for developers to monetise their apps and for users to have a frictionless payment experience, causing a quadrupling of payouts to developers on Google Play in 2012. Developers can now sell apps in more than 130 countries, while nearly half of all Google Play users are now able to charge purchases directly to their mobile bill using carrier billing. Last year, we expanded in-app payments to include subscriptions. Do you consider Android key to helping grow revenues for Google through AdMob, its mobile advertising platform As more people use Android-powered devices, the number of people accessing and searching the web from their mobile phones increases. And increased Android adoption means more web searches and more opportunities for advertising revenue and growth. At Google, we are seeing mobile search grow at an exponential rate, increasing nearly twice in the last year. A better, more innovative web whether people access it via PC or mobile is not only good for users but also good for Google. When do you consider making the Android-powered Nexus range of smartphones and tablets available to the African market, and at what price We're always looking at a variety of options, but have nothing to announce at this time. On the subject of cost, John Lagerling, director of global Android partnerships at Google, has said that we believe $50 (Sh4,250) is the lowest possible cost of a device without compromising on quality and user experience. We've already seen a number of manufacturers building sub-$100 Android-powered devices, and expect this trend to continue. Is Google considering a partnership with a device maker to offer a low-cost Nexus device in emerging markets such as Africa We're always looking at partnerships with manufacturers to build the best possible devices, but have nothing to announce at this time. What is Google's vision on enhancing access to information especially through mobile devices Mobile is a big opportunity and we are investing heavily for the benefit of partners, developers and users. One of Google's core aims is to organise the world's information and make it universally accessible – it is clear that, as the next billion people get online, their first contact with the web is likely to be through a mobile device, so it makes sense for Google to really innovate in this area. Because Android is open source, device manufacturers can use it for free, without needing to pay licensing fees, and this, in turn means that they can keep the cost of devices down without compromising on functionality and the user experience. Platforms such as Android give developers an amazing opportunity to build locally relevant apps and services and distribute them through Google Play; it can provide a way for business, large and small, to sell their goods to a wider audience; and it means that new services, such as voice search, can transform the way people get online and access information. For instance, in areas with low levels of literacy, being able to "speak" your search into the phone means that an inability to read or write need not prevent people from accessing services or acquiring knowledge. [email protected] (c) 2013 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |