An article in the International Herald Tribune (January 28, 2011) describes the 71 % growth in quarterly sales reported by Apple and attributes it to a “platform” approach.  The claim is that Apple software (iTunes, the store and app software) enables developers and media to use the hardware (iPads, iPhones etc) thus creating a growth spiral that increases as sales increase and thus propels growth.  But Google’s approach to creating the Android platform permits open system for hardware developers to leverage (unlike Apple’s closed model).  Which one of these platforms will win out and how do “platform” approaches affect the supply chain ? Does Apple’s outsourced approach to manufacturing (described in an earlier blog) permit the company to react quickly to demand shifts ?