While the parallels between MS of the 90's and Google are exxxxtremely thin --- it works only if you squint REAAAALLLY hard and use a sarcastic dismissive voice :) --- its not a huge stretch to say that Google, and Google alone, controls the features, look&feel, and direction of Android, leveraging close source applications through which they acquire customers, usage, and derive monetization. From Ars Technica, "In fact, development of the Android private branch and the roadmap is controlled by Google, with little input from external parties or the Open Handset Alliance members" http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2011/08/study-android-is-least-open-of-open-source-mobile-platforms.ars And from Droid Life: "Google has really started to enforce 'non-fragmentation clauses', giving the Android team the final say on how much can be tweaked on their stock code" http://www.droid-life.com/2011/03/31/google-tightens-the-android-reigns-time-to-start-controlling-fragmentation/ This enforcement, allegedly, is through access to the very valuable closed-source Google suite of applications -- without which the Android device doesn't do much more than boot. See http://www.gomonews.com/the-android-vs-cyanogen-story-has-google-shot-itself-in-the-foot-by-shooting-down-developer/ That said, no question that its been good (to date) for consumers - it just seems like the contrast between the public stance of Android and the behind-the-scenes shenanigans is... interesting.