Google could tighten conditions to be … Android – The Android Free

As many of you know (and if not, I put up at a time), Google is not enriched selling Android: your business passes through the Google Mobile Services , a set of services (Google Play Services and all Google applications in short) that is included in Android and it works independently of the system . The only problem is that are so tied to the experience of Android, that manufacturers no choice but to jump through hoops , except few exceptions like Amazon and Nokia (companies that can afford to have left set up their own services and dispense Google, with more or less success).

Why am I telling you all this? Because it seems that, according to confidential documents that had access The Information (unfortunately the article is behind a paywall), Google have tightened conditions with which these companies can use the services of Google, and the summary is pretty clear: or you give much more importance to Google than it has now, or you’re out of the game . The new conditions are as follows:

• preinstalled applications will increase to 20 , and manufacturers are required to place several of them in a desktop folder and place the bar Google search at the top, as is already done in the Google Now Launcher.
• Manufacturers must implement the “OK Google” Required as a word to wake the device and start a search, which means that the device has hardware support this function keyword.
• also should be able to reach sliding up Google Search from home button, which will have already been able to test if your Android has navigation bar.
• At start it should show that the device has Android (Powered by Android) or Google brand , as we saw in action in the past.
• Finally, if manufacturers want a piece of the money that brings Google their searches or Play, must sign agreements preventing them implement competing applications . nothing to rivals Google or Bing factory

We can take these new requirements by two extremes. On one pole, can consider that Google is implementing measures worthy monopoly : requires manufacturers to use their services only building that are set, leaving them jump through hoops, and short root competition services giant’s Mountain View. They are aware of how high has come Android, and do not want to miss anything of cake that has been made.

But, on the other hand, is not so bad or exaggerated as is announcing : The vast majority of these measures and have the devices that have been launched for 2014, remember that manufacturers use Google services (and even take profits thereby example in the last measurement) and Google takes steps to achieve a unification of all devices that use the Android Google Mobile Services. Create a separate user recognizable Android brand, they need to do something urgently in Google.

Anyway, it may not be as bad as it first appears. To you what you think these new rules

More Information | The Information [ENG, paywall] Via
| Droid Life