Google's tablet business model is actually superior to Amazon's. Google has better ad. monetization than Amazon, and just as good a theoretical monetization of digital media (movies, music, and books). Amazon has sustainable advantages in a shitty business (retailing/warehousing/shipping physical goods) but when it comes to digital media, it's just bits, a commodity. It is much easier for Google to sell digital conte…
Amazon is in a much superior position than Google in this competition. They didn't gain significance because of better tablet product or ad monetization; they are significant because of all the credit card information in their database before they entered the digital content delivery business. The friction from buying content on Kindle Fire is minimal, which is a deterministic advantage Amazon and Apple have over eve…
If this is true, than Google has the stronger position, as they can afford deeper subsidies on the device through advertising. I don't know what Google pays to be the default search engine on the Fire or the iPhone, but it is significant.