Samsung to cut out Google middleman with own developers' conference
Samsung's own devcon will put the hardware manufacturer first. — Samsung plans to hold its first developers' conference this October in San Francisco, the company announced Monday morning.
Context & Ripple Effects
Samsung's first developer event extends a software-building effort signaled by its February 2013 push to build up its software operations in Silicon Valley and New York. Its earlier Android phone plans made Google central to the platform relationship; a Samsung-run conference gives the handset maker its own forum for developers.
First-order effects
- Samsung gains a direct channel to present its devices, software priorities and developer tools without relying solely on Google's Android events.
- Developers targeting Samsung hardware gain a dedicated point of contact with the device maker alongside the broader Android ecosystem.
Second-order effects
- Google must share developer mindshare on Samsung devices with Samsung's own software agenda, even as Android remains the common platform.
- Other Android hardware makers face a higher bar for differentiating their developer outreach if Samsung turns its scale into a recurring developer program.
Third-order effects
- If major Android manufacturers build their own developer layers, control over SDKs, services and developer distribution becomes more contested between Google and the companies shipping the hardware.
The trend: Android's largest hardware vendors are seeking more direct control of developer relationships and the software layers that differentiate their devices.