[bad_user]

Given AOSP, the core of Android, is open source, which is what allows forks to exist, including Amazon's, what's the point in "stealing" from Android when they can just use it legally?

Google's grip on Android is via Google Play. Replace Play with your own store, replace Google's proprietary stuff (email, maps, notifications) and you've got a ready to use fork.

It's really not that complicated for a big company.

All smartphone vendors could do it, except none of them have the capacity to recreate Google's ecosystem that's being controlled via Play. It's why Windows Phone was a complete failure.

Think about that for a second. If Microsoft couldn't bootstrap an app ecosystem, most companies don't have any chance.

And I'm sure Huawei could, but will it take off outside of China? I doubt it.