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Android being open source means that any competitor can take it and run with it. Tbh, the main issue with that is the staffing required in terms of software engineers, but we’re Google to make the wrong move, I imagine Samsung would waste little time.

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> Android being open source means that any competitor can take it and run with it.

Oh yeah we are really seeing all those successful forks taking off. /s

On a more serious note, the key parts are not open source, that's why all those alternative ROMs are having a hard time and nobody can really run Android without official builds outside a niche of enthusiasts who are fine with sacrificing certain functionality.

Android isn't open source. AOSP is open source, but isn't a complete operating system.

The main reason competitors don't take off (e.g. Tizen) is the chicken/egg problem of the Google Play Store (which can't be shipped without Android).

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