I guess I assumed since we're talking public companies here that everyone knows that profits come first. Since "profits come first" for Google, MS, Nokia, Samsung, and everyone else, its not really saying much.
Not true, at least not in a useful sense (that is, without semantic games like "Putting users first is really putting profits first because it makes them money"). Google often turns down options that would squeeze out a little more money at the expense of its users. For example, Google slapped content farms for being worthless even though they seem to be pretty good money-makers.
But, while trying to avoid the semantics arguement, their profits depend on their advertising, which depends on search qualtity. By keeping search qualtity high they are passing over small, short-term profits for long-term ones. Yes the main idea is keeping users happy somthey stick around, but they aren't doing it because they love their users theyre doing it to make a better business.
