"With a high-quality open platform in hand, we then returned to our goal of making our services available on users’ phones. That’s why we developed Android apps for many of our services like YouTube, Gmail, Google Voice, and so on. These apps are Google’s way of benefiting from Android in the same way that any other developer can, but the apps are not part of the Android platform itself. We make some of these apps available to users of any Android-powered device via Android Market, and others are pre-installed on some phones through business deals."
The phrase "pre-installed on some phones through business deals" is at least suggestive that Google is being paid for the inclusion of their apps on phones.
I think rather the opposite: OEMs sell desktop real estate. You think Dell pays for antivirus? I think they get a fat fee upfront for even thinking of you, and then a per-conversion affiliate payout.
This is similar to many mobile softwRe arrangements in the pre-iPhone world.
"With a high-quality open platform in hand, we then returned to our goal of making our services available on users’ phones. That’s why we developed Android apps for many of our services like YouTube, Gmail, Google Voice, and so on. These apps are Google’s way of benefiting from Android in the same way that any other developer can, but the apps are not part of the Android platform itself. We make some of these apps available to users of any Android-powered device via Android Market, and others are pre-installed on some phones through business deals."
The phrase "pre-installed on some phones through business deals" is at least suggestive that Google is being paid for the inclusion of their apps on phones.