Aside from the investigation into Google’s search business, the EU is also investigating Android.
The European Commission has been examining Google’s Android operating system for nearly three years, and it is now ready to launch a formal investigation into claims of unfair app bundling. Google services and apps like Maps, Chrome, and YouTube are often bundled with Android devices, and competitors have complained that it’s giving Google an unfair advantage. Regulators previously questioned telecom companies and phone manufacturers, to see whether Google forces them to bundle apps or services at the expense of competitors.
I’m glad they’re investigating this, if only to finally get all these secret agreements between Google and OEMs (and carriers!) out in the open. In fact, with mobile communications having become such a crucial utility in our society, I think all agreements related to the interplay between carrier, OEM, and software maker should be out in the open, ready to face public scrutiny. As consumers of this vitally important utility, we have a right to know what kind of shady stuff is going on between the T-Mobiles, Vodafones, Googles, Apples, and Samsungs of this world.
Bundling blob drivers is unfair and anti-competitive.
the drivers must be open source, period.
It happens with Windows/Android/iOS/QNX and others.
If EU is really serious, then they should take action with elimination of blobs.
And reveal the backdoors ? How unfair…
Without those blobs very few hardware devices would even function. The drivers are NOT the issue at hand. The issue is whether Google maliciously locks customers into their services or whether they easily allow users to use whatever services they want. As for the “blobs”. Do you want Android to be successful? Do you want it to be used? If so then the “blobs” are a necessary evil. For Linux in ANY form or fashion to be successful has to work with ALL vendors whether open or proprietary.
Roberto J. Dohnert
http://www.pc-opensystems.com
http://www.blacklablinux.org
When I can change my search engine within Chrome on my Nexus 5. Also, if I didn’t want to use Google’s Apps, I don’t have to, and can use any of the competitors out there, using DropBox or other Cloud Services as my “host”. In fact, within Android, you can disable apps form even showing in the menu, so I wouldn’t even have to look at them.
I can’t say that I know how iOS or Windows handles these, so I cannot comment there.
Not only do you not have to use them, but mobile handset makers aren’t obliged to include them either. Someone give these antitrust idiots something better to do. If most OEMs are including Google’s apps it’s because their users want them. People actually use Google Maps, Gmail, and the like. What a shocking concept: users getting what they want.
Follow the money trail. It’ll lead you to whoever’s trying to pull some strings to force their own products on us.
It’s political theater. Once again Europe got caught with their pants down in an OS/platform race and American companies are eating their lunch. This is just bread and circuses to calm the idiots like Thom who hiss and spit any time they see the stars and stripes.
On the other hand it could also be the result of Microsoft lobbying, for similar reasons of jealousy. I wouldn’t be surprised either way.
Edited 2015-04-15 21:48 UTC
Don’t be a troll.
http://www.osnews.com/permalink?608916
Possibly, though I must point out that putting it that way only makes people less inclined to listen to you and, furthermore, is the attitude that’s given us the reputation of being arregant assholes. Tone it down, for the good of us all.
Google Search is not substitutable by European definition, therefore forcing handset manufacturers to include all Google apps and sell their souls is anti-competitive.
If this results only in users being able to uninstall apps that come bundled into their phones, it will be a large victory for competition and us, consumers.
And this is only the smallest problem with Google and Manufacturers relationship.
Can someone explain why the EU is not starting with iPhones (and WP) first? What 3rd party apps has anyone ever seen on either of those and they are also way more locked down then Android phones.
Edited 2015-04-15 14:49 UTC
Because they’ve probably donated more to the political campaigns than Google have? I honestly can’t think of any other reason. Hell, on my iPad, I’m not even permitted to change my default browser or email client without jailbreaking yet they’re complaining about handset makers choosing to include Google software?
People will usually say something like “marketshare! Marketshare! Apple has low marketshare!”, but it is quite, quite debatable which position is more powerful: lots of marketshare but low profits, or small marketshare but 80-90% of the profits.
iPad has anything but low market share.
Market share is one of the indicators. It’s what is called substitutability that EU operates with.
It’s not that simple, you can’t pick and choose which bits of gapps you want to take or even which handsets. That’s one of the points of this investigation.
By all means nail Apple and MS to the wall also btw.
In this case MS isn’t in any kind of position to manipulate primary or secondary markets
Exactly
They did. They started investigating iPhones and iPads two years ago. Now they are doing the same to Android.
An interesting aspect is also the peace deal between Google and Apple concerning iOS and Android. It may constitute a cartel.
Boo hoo. Does anyone seriously believe that Maps, Chrome, and YouTube aren’t among the best apps? Even so, whether or not they’re bundled is between Google and the phone manufacturers. If they choose to bundle certain apps, so be it, and if people don’t like it they should create their own phone OS, or buy an iPhone.
Edited 2015-04-15 20:35 UTC
Maps, Chrome and YouTube may be… But Keep, Drive, Docs and a crapload of others that are forced down our throats are far from the best.
If I remember correctly, Android licensees do not have an obligation to use neither Google specific apps like Gmail, Google search, Youtube, or the Google Play services. That’s why are companies like Amazon that have their own shop and app selection, or software companies that Cyanogenmod that have their releases without Google Apps (GAPPS for short). The OS is free for everyone to download and hack Apache 2.0/GPLv2. But the Play services are not.
But if we look at how some of those services work, for example last time I tried a couple of days ago Gmail deliver emails nearly instantly and place them in the Inbox, while Outlook/Hotmail delivered them sometimes hours or a day later, and most of them went to spam. Alternatives to YouTube that provide a comparable size in content and variety, without actually giving you YouTube results mixed in???? Not many.
In terms of agreement I really doubt they will look at that. And even, companies have options. They could use Windows Phone, Tyzen, or built from scratch their own OS, API and services.
But we have seen how good those other alternatives are selling. So again… Irrelevant.
And even, if Google is forced to not tied Play services with any other Google App like Gmail. Then how many devices will be released App Free. Because the heck I’m gonna buy a phone with Hotmail or Dailymotion that I don’t use and are hard-coded in ROM so I can’t remove unless (if lucky) can root the phone. Is already enough with each company bloatware. Why the EU don’t go after the bloatware PC’s and Phone vendors put extra on the phones instead.
Edited 2015-04-15 21:52 UTC
The Chinese have been selling Google-free Android phones for years.
Question is how much did Apple have to pay them for this, who cares whats bundled? if you don’t like it buy something else that is the heart of capitalism
The common sense say at the investigation they should find Google not guilty, since OEMs can use a version with nothing bundled, in the form of AOSP, and some do exactly that. Also, we see a number of OOEMs starting to bundle Microsoft services on their Android devices.
Still, the common sense don’t prevail every time.