Google Play Emerges as Powerful Weapon for Internet Giant

Google’s Play store is emerging as a powerful weapon for the Internet giant, attracting developers and generating growing profit.

Until recently, the Play store -- where owners of smartphones powered by Google's Android operating system get games, apps, music and more -- was overshadowed by Apple's older App Store. But as Android increasingly dominates smartphones, the dynamics are changing, helping Google attract more apps and developers while giving the company leverage to extract more money from each sale. Four out of five smartphones shipped in 2013 were Android devices, according to Strategy Analytics.