Android has always been referred to as an open system which is completely free to use and imposes no licensing restrictions. However, newly disclosed documents reveals that strings are attached when one uses this operating system.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the newly discovered set of documents reveal that Google has imposed strict restrictions on device manufacturers who want to access Google’s search engine, YouTube, and more than a million apps found in the Google Play app store. The software giant in return wants that the device makers must feature Google Apps and set Google Search as the default search engine for users.
Google wants device makers, looking for a Google Play license, to meet certain requirements as mentioned in its licensing agreement known as “Mobile Application Distribution Agreement” (MADA).
As per terms of the licensing agreement, device manufacturers need to make sure that Google’s Set-up Wizard, Google Phone-top Search, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, YouTube, Google Maps for Mobile, Google Street View, Contact Sync, Android Market Client, Google Voice Search, and Network Location Provider comes pre-loaded on their Android devices.
Also, device makers should look to it that Google Phone-top Search and the Android Market Client icon are placed at least on the panel immediately adjacent to the Default Home Screen and that all other Google Applications are placed no more than one level below the Phone Top.
European antitrust authorities are now examining these restrictions to check if Google is taking advantage of its hold on Android. Major companies in Europe with a dominant market share are required to promote competition which isn’t the case in the United States.
If in case, device manufacturers opt not to include Google Play on their devices, they won’t have access to the search giant’s Play Store, which hosts hundreds of thousands of apps, as well.
According to Strategy Analytics, in 2013, Android is the dominant operating system for mobile devices, accounting for 79% of smartphones and 62% of tablets shipped world-wide.
This is WAY out of control compared to what MSFT did with bundling a simple browser…where are the FEDS on this one ???
At least they allow other app stores and services unlike other phone OS’s. As well as side loading. And it is still optional for the manufacturers to include those Google Apps, they are still free to use android without them.
I never did understand the IE thing with MSFT, browsers are free and one can download another.
The Pirate Bay features all those apps too. I only use Google Play as a treasure map, then X marks the spot. Aarrrrgh Matey!! Happy looting.
The NSA knows where you are
First it was gay marriage…now this.