Google will soon allow users to choose the default search engine on Android-based smartphones in India. Explain that Google licenses its Android system to smartphone manufacturers, which includes mandatory pre-installation of its apps.
Google on Wednesday said it will allow users to choose the default search engine on Android-based smartphones in India. Google's statement comes at a time when it has failed to get a court order to stop an antitrust motion.
Google will make significant changes in its platform and business
Following the decision of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), technology giant Google will make significant changes to its platforms and business in India. Under this, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) will be able to license individual Google apps for pre-installation on their devices. Google is also updating Android compatibility requirements, to make it easier for partners to create non-compatible or forked variants, the company said in its blog.
Supreme Court gave a blow to Google
Last week, the Supreme Court refused to stay the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) order imposing a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for taking advantage of the dominant position of its popular Android operating system.
What google said in the blog
CCI imposed a fine of Rs 936 crore on US tech giant Google in a case related to its Play Store policies. Google said in the blog that we take seriously our commitment to comply with local laws and regulations in India. The recent CCI directives for Android and Play require us to make significant changes for India and today we have informed CCI how we will comply with their directives.
These changes included the freedom to license the app
Explain that these changes include freedom for original equipment manufacturers or smartphone makers to license individual Google apps for pre-installation on their devices. Android users have always been able to customize their devices according to their preferences. Indian users will now have the option to choose their default search engine through an options screen that will soon appear when setting up a new Android smartphone or tablet in India.
Google gave this argument
Google licenses its Android system to smartphone manufacturers, which includes mandatory pre-installation of its apps. The position was seen as anti-competitive, but the company argues that such agreements help keep Android free. In October last year, the CCI had said in its order that the license of Google's Play Store would not be linked to the requirement of pre-installing Google Search Services, Chrome browser, YouTube, or any other Google applications.
What's in order
The order asks Google to allow the uninstallation of its apps such as Google Maps and YouTube, which currently cannot be removed from Android phones when they come pre-installed. Google said in the blog that we are updating the Android compatibility requirements to introduce changes for partners to create non-compatible or forked variants.
