And how do you know this? Google is one of the smartest and richest technology companies out there. Is it inconceivable that they could foresee and plan 5-10 years into the future?
Now, you can certainly choose not to believe me. But I can state for sure the main intent of the people building and running android was to build a great mobile experience for users. When I say "nobody was thinking about ads". I don't mean "nobody considered the possibilities". I mean: Nobody saw it as a goal. It was not driving the decision making process. In fact, some people saw it as an anti-goal.
Nobody is saying that the android team sat around in a smoke filled room plotting about how it could be all about ads. Once Android was at Google, obviously most people would be focused on making a successful platform first and foremost.
Nevertheless, the reason for Google as a whole to own such a platform is to protect its revenues streams.
Google's revenue streams rely on access to data about user behavior.
Android's strategic purpose was to ensure that Google controlled the platform so that the separate goal of capturing user information would not be threatened by other corporations.
"Android's strategic purpose was to ensure that Google controlled the platform so that the separate goal of capturing user information would not be threatened by other corporations."
False. I have explained the strategic purpose of android. I have explained what the main concerns were. User information capture was not among them. You have restated that you believe it was something else. That's fine. You are entitled to your opinion. Every piece of evidence I have and know about says you are incorrect.
Google's ad business relies on access to user data for targeting. If Google has a strategic goal to protect the ad business, it therefore also has a strategic goal to protect it's access to user data.