Google
According to Andy Rubin, Google's VP of mobile platforms, your car is Android's next target platform. In an interview with San Jose Mercury News, he said: "We're at about 4 billion cell phones. About 1.4 billion Internet connected PCs -- that includes desktop and laptops and everything else. Like 1.2 billion automobiles. Some 800 million TVs. And it's like, 'OK, let's target the top four.' Let's do everything we can to get the big ones." There's no word on exactly what Android might run inside your car, but it seems reasonable to attach it to in-car infotainment systems. The system already comes with navigation software, for starters.
Google's reasons for going after the largest markets available are very simple: a large audience translates into more advertising clicks. Profit follows naturally, like pastrami on rye.
It's a very different model than Apple's
That's exactly why Rubin's budget "isn't based on sales." Instead, it's all about "more eyeballs, more happy, delighted users, more face time. You carry your cell phone around eight or 10 hours a day, the revenue crank just turns." Google is kind of like ExxonMobil
It all makes sense, doesn't it? I'm a happy long-term Google owner, because the business just follows from keeping users satisfied. Discuss this automatic cash machine in the comments below.