[bp3dots]

This is a bit of backtracking on your end, as you had previously said,



And this article clearly shows that LG does the sell Nexus line to distributors other than Google. So LG cannot get a pass on the relatively abysmal sales numbers the Nexus line does.

Sorry. To clarify, my original "LG doesn't sell the Nexus line themselves." - Google orders X Nexus phones. LG does not make more to sell outside of Google's orders. Those X units are able to be distributed however Google allocates to whatever channels are selling the devices.

Hope that makes more sense.

The Nexus was never going to prop up LG's mobile business. It is a small portion of it. I'm not sure why you seem to think that shows the Nexus to be a poor seller. It does, though, illustrate a company who can effectively foercast and manufacture appropriate amounts of product to match expected demand, which BB seems to have an issue with.

[Roo Zilla]

Actually it isn't FUD, it is getting harder and harder not to use Google services on an Android device.

Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary | Ars Technica

As it stands, almost half of Android sales are in China. In China, Google services don't really work (bad relationship with government), and a lot of the phones sold there don't even have Google Play. They get their apps from multiple app stores like the Baidu Store or the Tencent Store.

Most certainly Google is tightening its grip on Android, but as it stands, it's not as tight as its made out to be in that article. It's possible the Google/Beijing relationship with thaw eventually, but even then, it's doubtful Google would be able to strengthen their grip on Android in China. The people there are accustomed to not using Google, and use various Chinese alternatives. For example, Youtube is inaccessible in China, so people watch Youku. Even if Youtube all of a sudden became available tomorrow, it's doubtful people will stop watching Youku for Youtube, since Youku is designed for Chinese market with content Chinese want to watch. Google Maps is great in the US, but in China, it's only so-so and it does a very poor job of finding POI. AutoNavi does a much better job and Baidu is getting better every day. It's like that with all of Google's services there, since most of them don't even work right anyway. You're lucky if you can even log into your Gmail account, half the time you can't.

[co4nd]

As it stands, almost half of Android sales are in China. In China, Google services don't really work (bad relationship with government), and a lot of the phones sold there don't even have Google Play. They get their apps from multiple app stores like the Baidu Store or the Tencent Store.

Most certainly Google is tightening its grip on Android, but as it stands, it's not as tight as its made out to be in that article. It's possible the Google/Beijing relationship with thaw eventually, but even then, it's doubtful Google would be able to strengthen their grip on Android in China. The people there are accustomed to not using Google, and use various Chinese alternatives. For example, Youtube is inaccessible in China, so people watch Youku. Even if Youtube all of a sudden became available tomorrow, it's doubtful people will stop watching Youku for Youtube, since Youku is designed for Chinese market with content Chinese want to watch. Google Maps is great in the US, but in China, it's only so-so and it does a very poor job of finding POI. AutoNavi does a much better job and Baidu is getting better every day. It's like that with all of Google's services there, since most of them don't even work right anyway. You're lucky if you can even log into your Gmail account, half the time you can't.

The Androids in China are not Google Nexus devices. As far a s Googles Nexus business model, sure you can use non Google services, but Google is betting you don't. Nexus sells near cost.