Last month Google CEO Larry Page announced Android founder and team member Andy Rubin was moving on to something new at Google. In his place, Sundar Pichai will be taking over the lead on Android. While all parties have been pretty mum on the subject of what Google was up to, that has not stopped the rumor mill from cranking up and trying to read between the lines. Recently, some folks with Business Insider spent some time speaking with insiders and former Google employees to see if they could piece together a better understanding of the situation.
The first issue addressed was whether Rubin had been transitioned away from the Android team because of his temper and general gruffness. The sources indicate that while it is true that Rubin could sometimes be difficult to interact with, that was not a reason for Page to give him the axe. They point to Nikesh Arora, chief business officer at Google, who supposedly has a similar temperament, but is not going anywhere.
Rather than issues related to interpersonal technique, some think it has more to do with where Rubin saw Android going and how that fit in with Google’s overall strategy. Apparently Page sees Google as a services company, built on products like Search, Maps, Mail, and YouTube. Android is really just a means to get those services into the hands of customers. You may recall back in February when there were suggestions of friction between Samsung and Google driven by comments Rubin had made about Samsung getting too big and becoming a threat to Android. Such a view is not consistent with a company that sees itself as a services provider since they would not necessarily care what platform is used or what it is called. So, it may be the case that Page did not like Rubin stirring the pot and potentially chasing away an “access point” for Google services.
This concept of Android really just being a way to get Google services into the hands of consumers is bolstered by the selection of Pichai. Pichai made a name for himself by convincing computer makers to install the Google Toolbar on their products. This effort involved the establishment of partnerships with many different players in the market and would not have been successful if Pichai had been choosy about who got the Toolbar, since the Toolbar was also a means to an end. If the conjecture is right, Page is hoping Pichai can guide Android in the same way to land on as many devices as possible regardless of the name or who controls the platform.
The last piece that some may be wondering about is Motorola. Why would Google need a device manufacturer in-house if the platform does not really matter? Two possible answers exist. The first is the ever popular patent portfolio that Google can leverage. The second has to do with what Motorola does well – hardware technology development. Apparently Page is not so interested in seeing Motorola, or Google branded, devices as much as he is in seeing smartphones in general continue to improve so the Google services can run better and do more things. Pushing Motorola along in this direction is more important than creating an Apple-like integrated platform.
source: Business Insider
Come comment on this article: Sources speculate as to why Android’s Rubin is starting new chapter