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I agree with what you said, but I don't think that's the part that has people most concerned. It's more about stuff like this: According to the BusinessWe

I agree with what you said, but I don't think that's the part that has people most concerned. It's more about stuff like this: According to the BusinessWeek report, Google has been using its exclusive control over timely source code availability as leverage to block vendors from making customizations that don't align with Google's business interests. For example, the article says that Google attempted to block Verizon from shipping an Android device with Microsoft's Bing search engine.

blinkingled 16y ago
Hmm. They did? Is there a proof to that? Because at Dive into Mobile conference last year Rubin said something totally different on that topic - to the effect of we don't care if some VZW phones are shipped with Bing and the market will sort it out - people will flock to the best experience.
- gonzo 16y ago
  That was before Facebook and Amazon became threats to Google's hegemony.
beej71 16y ago
I can see how that might trouble some people, but the Compatibility Definition Document has always existed, hasn't it? You can't just release anything at all and slap the Android trademark on it and use the store, right? You have always had to operated within Google's restrictions if you wanted to do that. So... why are people surprised?
- trythis 16y ago
  Does the CDD disallow using a non-Google search engine? A quick perusal of the latest CDD suggests that isn't the case. My understanding is that you have to use Google's search engine if you want to slap "with Google" on the back of your phone.
  - patrickaljord 16y ago
    > My understanding is that you have to use Google's search engine if you want to slap "with Google" on the back of your phone. Well, if your phone comes with Bing and it says "with Google", isn't that kind of lying? Also some phones have been locked on Bing so people couldn't even revert to Google.
    - trythis 16y ago
      Afaik, you're supposedly free to ship a phone with Bing as long as it doesn't say "with Google". I assume the BusinessWeek report is saying that Google's trying to block Bing even if the phone doesn't say "with Google", otherwise this wouldn't be newsworthy. But maybe that's not the case, and Verizon's just trying to raise a stink. Unfortunately, Rubin's response doesn't exactly clarify things.
  - fpgeek 16y ago
    I don't know what the CDD says about non-Google search engines, but I will point out that Bing is in the Android Market. Exactly how much more open does Google need to be to competitors' products and services?

blinkingled 16y ago

Hmm. They did? Is there a proof to that? Because at Dive into Mobile conference last year Rubin said something totally different on that topic - to the effect of we don't care if some VZW phones are shipped with Bing and the market will sort it out - people will flock to the best experience.

gonzo 16y ago
That was before Facebook and Amazon became threats to Google's hegemony.

beej71 16y ago

I can see how that might trouble some people, but the Compatibility Definition Document has always existed, hasn't it? You can't just release anything at all and slap the Android trademark on it and use the store, right? You have always had to operated within Google's restrictions if you wanted to do that. So... why are people surprised?

trythis 16y ago
Does the CDD disallow using a non-Google search engine? A quick perusal of the latest CDD suggests that isn't the case. My understanding is that you have to use Google's search engine if you want to slap "with Google" on the back of your phone.
- patrickaljord 16y ago
  > My understanding is that you have to use Google's search engine if you want to slap "with Google" on the back of your phone. Well, if your phone comes with Bing and it says "with Google", isn't that kind of lying? Also some phones have been locked on Bing so people couldn't even revert to Google.
  - trythis 16y ago
    Afaik, you're supposedly free to ship a phone with Bing as long as it doesn't say "with Google". I assume the BusinessWeek report is saying that Google's trying to block Bing even if the phone doesn't say "with Google", otherwise this wouldn't be newsworthy. But maybe that's not the case, and Verizon's just trying to raise a stink. Unfortunately, Rubin's response doesn't exactly clarify things.
- fpgeek 16y ago
  I don't know what the CDD says about non-Google search engines, but I will point out that Bing is in the Android Market. Exactly how much more open does Google need to be to competitors' products and services?