There is no iPhone vs Android smartphone war. It is only Apple vs Samsung.

BGR suggests that even as the smarpthone wars jump into high gear in 2012, what with a new iPhone (OMG!) and Google's takeover of Motorola, and Windows 7.5 and/or 8, and the killing off of Symbian and the possible death of Blackberry and, well, lots of stuff really, it will continue to be a fight not between two platforms but between two companies:

Apple and Samsung

This is not a war between iOS and Android. In fact, if that was a war, Apple won. Resoundingly.

No, the war now is between Apple, which exclusively offers iOS, and Samsung, which leads with Android, but also offers Bada, has considered Blackberry and may be working on still another of its own platforms. Oh, and is probably gearing up to roll out several Windows Phone devices:

The analyst believes Samsung and Apple will combine to record 90% of the smartphone industry’s pre-tax profits in 2012.

“Smartphones continue to grow strongly, now accounting for over 30% of total volumes and over 75% of total industry revenues,” the analyst wrote. “However, the performance disparity between the stronger players – Apple and Samsung – vs. the others remains stark and these two now account for over 55% of industry revenues and over 90% of total EBIT.”

Why doesn't Samsung at this point take full responsibility for *it's* version of Android? End the whole fragmentation problem. Create an Android Market where all developers can be assured that over 90% of the devices, say, have similar screen sizes and hardware capabilities? 

Then maybe cut a deal with Bing and split the search ad revenues?

At this point, it seems as if Google needs Samsung more than Samsung needs Google.