Earlier this month, Sony's (SNE +2.24%) Xperia Z Ultra appeared in Google's (GOOG +0.48%) Play store, as the Google Play Edition Z Ultra. Like other Google Play Edition devices, the phone runs stock Android and features an unlocked bootloader, making it an ideal device for Android app developers to tinker with. In time, it could help Sony compete against Apple (AAPL +2.18%) and other Android OEMs.
Apple has been absolutely dominating Sony's home market of Japan recently, with the iPhone now taking nearly 40% of the market, and some analysts expect Apple's Japanese market share to break above 50% next year. Google would benefit if Sony could emerge as a major Android OEM, but until it can win on its home turf, that is unlikely.
In the following video, Fool contributor Sam Mattera explains why the Google Play Edition of Sony's phablet could be important to both Sony and Google.
