It is a stretch to call Android a "staggering business failure" based on losses incurred by Motorola. Android wasn't intended to make money directly -- it was intended to protect Google's real interests (remote services that drive advertising revenue). Closed mobile platforms could easily cut Google off from their users, and ultimately their revenue stream.

Perhaps it wasn't smart for Google to get into the hardware business in the mobile space. But calling Android a business failure because of it? No way.