Google has announced its plans for India, which will impact many smartphone users. This will affect users, manufacturers, and app developers alike. The changes were made after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a fine of Rs 1337.76 crore on Google.
The CCI alleged that Google used Android unfairly to ensure that more people used Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, or what is known as Google Suite. In response, the CCI demanded specific changes from Google, and Google has complied with many of them. In this article, we will share all the essential changes that you should be aware of. Without further ado, let’s get to it.
No More Google Folder
Smartphone OEMs will now be able to license individual Google Apps. They can pre-install Google Play Store and YouTube without bundling the entire Google Suite. Every new smartphone includes a slew of Google Apps in the Google Folder, located on the Home Screen’s bottom left.
OEMs can now make changes to this. Android smartphone manufacturers can now choose which Google Apps to include. Moreover, all pre-installed Google Apps can now be uninstalled by the user. This is convenient, as only some people use all Google apps, like Google Photos or TV.
Search Engine
Users can select their default search engine during the setup process for Android phones and tablets. This will give users a choice.
Billing by User Preference
Payments for subscriptions and in-app purchases were previously handled by Google Play, which took a commission of 15–30%. However, third-party billing services will now be available, giving users payment options. There are currently no details available on commission rates or conditions.
Android Fork OS
Custom Builds Using Open-Source AOSP Will Have Good Support for the Play Store and Android Compatibility Requirements for Partners to Build Non-compatible or Forked Variants. This will improve the OS.
Third-party stores on the Google Play Store
The CCI has requested that third-party app stores such as Amazon Appstore, Aptoide, F-Droid, and others be allowed on the Google Play Store so people can easily install them. These changes will alter the Android experience and also have an impact on Google’s business in India. Android powers 97% of India’s smartphone market, so the effect will be significant. Until then, stay geeky with AndroidGreek.
