Telecom & Wireless

Samsung Captures Virtually All the Profit in Android Market

Samsun galaxy s3 phone
courtesy of Samsung
To say that Samsung Electronics dominates the market for smartphones using the Android operating system from Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is an understatement. The Korean electronics giant reaps 95% of the profit in the Android market, not far behind the 100% profit that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) hauls in from its proprietary iPhones and iOS market.

The data comes from the latest research by Strategy Analytics and reflects profits generated in the first quarter of 2013. Of profit totaling $5.3 billion, Samsung takes an estimated $5.1 billion, with LG Electronics capturing about $100 million and the rest divided among all other Android phone makers.

Not only does Samsung beat every other smartphone maker in taking profit from Android, Strategy Analytics’ executive director notes an even more glaring note:

We believe Samsung generates more revenue and profit from the Android platform than Google does. Samsung has strong market power and it may use this position to influence the future direction of the Android ecosystem.

Google’s Motorola division is among the also-rans in the profit-taking from Android, but it is unknown how much Google benefits from its control of the advertising network that feeds the Android ecosystem. Google’s gross profit last quarter topped $8 billion, but how much can be attributed to Android is not broken out by the company. Whatever the total, it is certainly not more than $5.1 billion.

Google kicks off its developers’ conference I/O today, and the company is expected to introduce a new streaming music service that could challenge both Apple’s iTunes and Internet radio provider Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P). Investors are upbeat, sending the stock above $900 a share for the first time and to a new all-time high of $911.76.

What is amusing to ponder is how much Google could have profited from Android if it had charged smartphone makers even a modest licensing fee.

Travel Cards Are Getting Too Good To Ignore (sponsored)

Credit card companies are pulling out all the stops, with the issuers are offering insane travel rewards and perks.

We’re talking huge sign-up bonuses, points on every purchase, and benefits like lounge access, travel credits, and free hotel nights. For travelers, these rewards can add up to thousands of dollars in flights, upgrades, and luxury experiences every year.

It’s like getting paid to travel — and it’s available to qualified borrowers who know where to look.

We’ve rounded up some of the best travel credit cards on the market. Click here to see the list. Don’t miss these offers — they won’t be this good forever.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.

AI Portfolio

Discover Our Top AI Stocks

Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.

You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.