Does Samsung need Google?

Does Samsung need Google?

Samsung needs to be in control of Samsung’s destiny. That means control of the smartphone’s operating system. Not just access to the changes, but total control.

Samsung should fork Android.

Samsung should take the Ice Cream Sandwich code base and follow the path blazed by the Kindle Fire; using TouchWiz user interface to maintain continuity; and the ‘S’ apps to form part of the core operating system; while continuing to work on the software services and cloud support to replicate Google’s services so any transition for the majority of the Galaxy users would be seamless.

Seems a logical argument, but not just for Samsung, I would say any one who want to remain a 'major player' needs to have full control over OS/allied software they put on their handsets. Once, Samsung follows footsteps of Amazon, Google may fast become irrelevant in the longer term future of Android (or whatever becomes of it).