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My understanding is Google also blocks hardware vendors from working with alternative android based OSes. They accomplish this by threatening the hardware vend
by nkassis 11y ago
My understanding is Google also blocks hardware vendors from working with alternative android based OSes. They accomplish this by threatening the hardware vendors with not licensing Google's android version with Google's apps if they release another android phone with say Kindle OS.
That seems to fall under anti-trust behavior to me. (I'm not a legal expert). Using your strength in one market (search, email, youtube...) gain and protect market share in another (Mobile OS).
- emodendroket 11y agoIs that really the case? HTC is releasing Nexus devices and Windows phone at the same time, and they also released the "Facebook phone." I can't imagine they'd be jeopardizing their Android business over Windows phone or FB Home if that were a real concern.
- cwyers 11y agoWindows Phone isn't covered by the deal, which only extends to forks of AOSP, not wholly different mobile OSes. The Facbook Phone, IIRC, was just Android with the Facebook launcher in place of the default Launcher, the underlying OS was still Google's approved version of Android.
- tashoecraft 11y agoI'm no expert on this, but from what I remember, if you produce an android phone running normal stock android, then you cannot make another phone and fork the OS. So while HTC can make Nexus and windows phones, they cannot make Nexus and their own phone running their own port of android that ditches all of Googles apps. It's Googles way of locking Hardware manufactures in and preventing competition. Hence lawsuits.
- emodendroket 11y agoI thought Facebook Home was more invasive than it apparently is.
- AJ007 11y agoYou are correct. Good stuff from Ben Evans about this http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2015/3/15/android-taxonomies http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2015/3/15/android-taxonom...
- angryasian 11y agoI'm not an expert as well, but I can see how this causes confusion in the market. If a handset maker provides two phones both running Android to the market, one has the expected Google services another with possibly subpar services. This does look negatively upon google and not the handset manf. because Android is associated with Google for the most part. Imagine if HTC had released the same exact phone with two competing versions of Android. I actually think its a disservice to the market, especially if there is more financial incentive for a manufacturer to push the version of Android that is not Google's.
- Oletros 11y agoOHA members can't make non compatible Android versions but they can sell Android devices without Google Services
- smokeyj 11y ago> My understanding is Google also blocks hardware vendors from working with alternative android based OSes. What right do manufacturers have to reproduce google's code? It's not like those manufacturers can make iOS devices either.
- fragmede 11y agoGoogle granted them that right when they chose the copyleft Apache License v2.0 for the majority of the Android stack which permits such reproduction. The Google apps, Gmail, Maps, etc, are closed source, and cannot be redistributed. https://source.android.com/license.html https://source.android.com/license.html
- smokeyj 11y agoDidn't manufacturers grant google the right to extortion when they licensed g-products? Unless manufacturers are children without the ability to consent to terms I don't see why I should care about their arrangement.