Android is a big green money-making machine for Google
Google has generated $31bn in revenues from its Android mobile operating system and most of that – some $22bn – is pure profit, according to figures disclosed in a court battle between Google and Oracle.
The figures were disclosed in court yesterday (21 January) by a lawyer acting on behalf of Oracle, and Google is not happy.
Google has said that the figures should not have been made public.
Oracle is locked in a lawsuit with Google, accusing the search giant of using its Java software without paying for it in order to develop the Android mobile operating system.
Android was acquired by Google in 2005 and unveiled in 2007 with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance.
Google launched the Google Play store in 2009 and, by the first quarter of 2016, there were more than 1.9m apps on the Google Play store.
It is understood that Android makes money for Google in two ways: by advertising on Android phones, and revenues that Google makes from the sale of apps on Google Play.
In 2010, Oracle launched its mega-lawsuit against Google over the use of Java in Android.
Google has asked the San Francisco federal judge to redact and seal portions of the public transcript arguing the Oracle attorney improperly revealed information marked for “Attorney’s Eyes Only”.
Android image via Shutterstock
