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Google Warns Android Might Not Remain Free Because of EU Decision (theverge.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: The EU's decision to force Google to unbundle its Chrome and search apps from Android may have some implications for the future of Android's free business model. In a blog post defending Google's decision to bundle search and Chrome apps on Android, Google CEO Sundar Pichai outlines the company's response to the EU's $5 billion fine. Pichai highlights the fact a typical Android user will "install around 50 apps themselves" and can easily remove preinstalled apps. But if Google is prevented from bundling its own apps, that will upset the Android ecosystem.
"If phone makers and mobile network operators couldn't include our apps on their wide range of devices, it would upset the balance of the Android ecosystem," explains Pichai, carefully avoiding the fact that phone makers will no longer be forced to bundle these apps but can still choose to do so. Pichai then hints that the free Android business model has relied on this app bundling. "So far, the Android business model has meant that we haven't had to charge phone makers for our technology, or depend on a tightly controlled distribution model," says Pichai. "But we are concerned that today's decision will upset the careful balance that we have struck with Android, and that it sends a troubling signal in favor of proprietary systems over open platforms." While it may be a bluff to court popular opinion, Google is threatening to license Android to phone makers. "[I]f phone makers can bundle their own browsers instead of Chrome and point search queries toward rivals, then that could have implications for Google's mobile ad revenue, which constitutes more than 50 percent of the company's net digital ad revenue," reports The Verge.
"If phone makers and mobile network operators couldn't include our apps on their wide range of devices, it would upset the balance of the Android ecosystem," explains Pichai, carefully avoiding the fact that phone makers will no longer be forced to bundle these apps but can still choose to do so. Pichai then hints that the free Android business model has relied on this app bundling. "So far, the Android business model has meant that we haven't had to charge phone makers for our technology, or depend on a tightly controlled distribution model," says Pichai. "But we are concerned that today's decision will upset the careful balance that we have struck with Android, and that it sends a troubling signal in favor of proprietary systems over open platforms." While it may be a bluff to court popular opinion, Google is threatening to license Android to phone makers. "[I]f phone makers can bundle their own browsers instead of Chrome and point search queries toward rivals, then that could have implications for Google's mobile ad revenue, which constitutes more than 50 percent of the company's net digital ad revenue," reports The Verge.
my carrier locks them to my phone by marking them as system applications. At one point I had an Android phone with a demo of a Puzzle Bobble clone that was marked as a critical system app. Pissed me off because I wanted the 127 mb of space back (which is a hell of a lot for a Puzzle Bobble Clone). To be fair I'm an American though.
Meanwhile I don't think Europeans are going to care if they have to pay $10 bucks for Android, and I don't think Google will be able to charge much more than that.
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First, Android is not free. You pay for it with your personal information. If it's free as in "open", then Google should license it as such instead of fucking around.
Second, if Android is worth anything, people will pay for it with money.
Third (bonus), I do not want my operating system to be an "ecosystem". I want it to be an operating system and get the fuck out of my way.
You are welcome on my lawn.
? The other companies are welcome to develop their on OS like Apple has.
is a load of bull. i've had and have a phone with twitter and a couple other apps that i cannot uninstall. it will not get ride of them.
"If phone makers and mobile network operators couldn't include our apps on their wide range of devices, it would upset the balance of the Android ecosystem," explains Pichai,
Utter fucking bullshit. No user WANTS this junk on their phone. The "ecosystem" he's talking about is the kickbacks they get for dumping a load of garbage onto people's phones. It's anti-competitive and removes power from the people. Fuck your business deals. Let people choose what they want to run.
To be clear, the "choice" here is between Google forcing carriers and phone vendors to have certain apps on the phone, versus carriers and vendors placing their horrible in-house apps on the phone. You aren't going to get to choose either way. At least with Google's version you'll have more-or-less production-ready apps with relatively long-term support.
There is a better solution by using a PUBLIC standard for Android without the google's monopolistic control over it and with REAL competition driving REAL innovation at every level and in every part of the Android platform, not just the low-margin commodity hardware. The only problem is that it would reduce the google's profit.
Whoops. I forgot that would be a religious violation. "There is no gawd but profit, and the EVIL google must become gawd's #1 prophet!"
Actually, it isn't clear if the google is the most evil of the inhuman corporate cancers that are destroying our lives for the greater glory of profit maximization. However it is absolutely clear that the problem of profit maximization is a FAKE problem because there is NO possible solution. There is always a bigger number for a more maximum profit.
Here's my simpleminded solution: A progressive tax on corporate profits based on market share. The data is already there for public corporations that are required to open their books. As a company's taxes increase, it would eventually become MORE profitable to reproduce by fission.
ADSAuPR, atAJG.
Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
Statement from Google pretty much confirms the EU is correct in that Google is forcing its services to lock out the market and make money. Personally I have no problems if Android doesn't remain free and it means a couple of dollars more on the cost of my devices, would happily trade that for a more open environment.
Having a fine for every pre-installed App you can't un-install would be very popular.