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Sure, and Pichai is saying it doesn't make good business sense for Google to spend a lot of money developing a mobile OS and then give it away for free unless t
by jaredklewis 8y ago
Sure, and Pichai is saying it doesn't make good business sense for Google to spend a lot of money developing a mobile OS and then give it away for free unless they can use it to push their other products, like search. Google's business model was to give away the OS for free, but require Google apps to be bundled (in exchange for play store access).
So I have nothing against the EU decision, but Google's response is just common sense. They aren't a charity. If Google can't bundle their money makers with the phones, that kills the current business model and leaves them footing the Android development bill while getting nothing in return. So, they need a new business model; making Android proprietary is an obvious option.
- chottocharaii 8y agoThat may be the argument. Yet it was considered by the commission & dismissed as there are ways to monetize android profitably for google without resorting to anticompetitive contracts.
- dunpeal 8y ago> there are ways to monetize android profitably for google without resorting to anticompetitive contracts. Interesting! What are these ways?
- telchar 8y agoSupposing a manufacturer wanted to use Android on it's phones, they could pay a sum of money for the right to do that in proportion to the number of phones the software were installed on. This fee would cover Google's costs and need for profit. You could call it a license fee, perhaps.
- jaredklewis 8y agoSure, I don’t have any objection to the commission determining Google’s current businesss model is anticompetitive or forcing Google change it. However, when google then does change their business model, no one should react with surprise.
- noxecanexx 8y agoThat's the thing. The EU is not trying to tell Google how to make money from android. It's only saying it can't force installation of search and chrome. It's upto Google to find another means of making money that won't exploit their dominance in other markets
- jaredklewis 8y agoSure, I have no problem at all with the commission’s findings or forcing Google to change its business practices. But I find it weird when then people are shocked that google says it may make android proprietary. What exactly did people expect to happen? That Google would decide to develop Android as an act of charity to handset manufacturers and mobile carriers?
- londons_explore 8y agoI wonder if Google could say "Android is free in the entire world, except Europe where it costs $500"
- noxecanexx 8y agoI would assume most android users think android is cheap rather than free. It would be interesting though to see their response to such price hike(if it ever happens)