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Google Mobile Services (GMS) is a collection of proprietary applications and application programming interfaces (APIs) services from Google that are typically pre-installed on Android devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. GMS is not a part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which means an Android manufacturer needs to obtain a license from Google in order to legally pre-install GMS on an Android device. This license is provided by Google without any licensing fees except in the EU.[1][2][3][4]

Core applications

The following are core applications that are part of Google Mobile Services:[5]

Historically

Reception, competitors, and regulators

FairSearch

Numerous European firms filed a complaint to the European Commission stating that Google had manipulated their power and dominance within the market to push their Services to be used by phone manufacturers.[6] The firms were joined under the name FairSearch, and the main firms included were Microsoft, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Nokia and Oracle.[6] FairSearch's major problem with Google's practices was that they believed Google were forcing phone manufacturers to use their Mobile Services. They claimed Google managed this by asking these manufacturers to sign a contract stating that they must preinstall specific Google Mobile Services, such as Maps, Search and YouTube, in order to get the latest version of Android.[7] Google swiftly responded stating that they "continue to work co-operatively with the European Commission".[8]

Android smartphones with built-in Google mobile services

Aptoide

The third-party Android app store Aptoide also filed an EU competition complaint against Google once again stating that they are misusing their power within the market.[9] Aptoide alleged that Google was blocking third-party app stores from being on Google Play, as well as blocking Google Chrome from downloading any third-party apps and app stores. As of June 2014, Google had not responded to these allegations.[9]

Abuse of Android dominance

In May 2019, Umar Javeed, Sukarma Thapar, Aaqib Javeed vs. Google LLC & Ors. the Competition Commission of India ordered an antitrust probe against Google for abusing its dominant position with Android to block market rivals. In Prima Facie opinion the commission held, Mandatory Pre-installation of entire Google Mobile Services (GMS) suite under Mobile application distribution agreements MADA amounts to imposition of unfair condition on the device manufacturers.[10]

EU antitrust ruling

On July 18, 2018, the European Commission fined Google €4.34 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules which resulted in a change of licensing policy for the GMS in the EU. A new paid licensing agreement for smartphones and tablets shipped into the EEA was created.[11] The change is that the GMS is now decoupled from the base Android and will be offered under a separate paid licensing agreement.[4]

Privacy policy

At the same time, Google faced problems with various European data protection agencies, most notably In the United Kingdom and France. The problem they faced was that they had a set of 60 rules merged into one, which allowed Google to "track users more closely".[8] Google once again came out and stated that their new policies still abide by European Union laws.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Google Mobile Services" (PDF). Motorola Mobility. May 21, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Hildenbrand, Jerry (September 23, 2019). "What are Google Mobile Services (GMS) and why does my phone need them?". Android Central. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Bradshaw, Kyle (October 7, 2019). "These are the new default Google apps for Android 10 and Android Go". 9to5Google. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Google will start charging Android device makers a fee for using its apps in Europe". The Verge. October 16, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Google Mobile Services". Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  6. 1 2 −use−of-android-has-been-anti-competitive/, Rivals claim Google's 'deceptive' use of Android has been anti-competitive, April 9, 2013. Retrieved on October 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ −software−303817, European regulators training sights on Google's mobile software, July 31, 2014, Retrieved on October 19, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 , Microsoft accuses Google of pushing services to Android, April 9, 2013, Retrieved on 19October 2014.
  9. 1 2 −faces-Eu−competition-complaint-over-android-apps-7000030666/, Google faces EU competition complaint over Android apps, Liam Tung, June 18, 2014, Retrieved on 19October 2014.
  10. ↑ Edelman, Benjamin G. (May 12, 2014). "Does Google Leverage Market Power Through Tying and Bundling?". Journal of Competition Law and Economics. Rochester, NY. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2436940. S2CID 219368089. SSRN 2436940.
  11. ↑ "Google tweaks Android licensing terms in Europe to allow Google app unbundling -- for a fee". October 16, 2018.
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