Earlier today, the EU ruled that Google has acted illegally, abusing its position in the handset market by indulging in unfair practices.
The EU says that Google required Android handset and tablet manufacturers to pre-install the Google Search app and its own web browser Chrome as a condition for allowing them to offer access to its Play Store and other core Google services. The ruling further states that Google made payments to large manufacturers and mobile network operators that agreed to exclusively pre-install the Google Search app on their devices.
The ruling also alleges that Google prevented manufacturers from selling any smart devices powered by alternative “forked” versions of Android by threatening to refuse them permission to pre-install Google apps on forks that did not pass its CTS test.
Google’s Take: We are not in the wrong
Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai has now refuted the claims made by the EU, detailing why he feels that the ruling is incorrect. He goes on to say:
“We are concerned that today’s decision will upset the careful balance that we have struck with Android, and that it sends a troubling signal in favor of proprietary systems over open platforms.”
Google claims that there are costs involved in building Android and that Google has invested billions of dollars over the last decade to make Android what it is today.
Therefore, Google offers phone makers the option of pre-loading a suite of popular Google apps (such as Search, Chrome, Play, Maps, and Gmail). This helps generate revenue for Google. However, OEMs can choose to not include Google services, if they so wish. Further, OEMs are free to pre-install competing apps alongside Google apps.
On the point of bundling web browsers along with its Play Services suite, Google says that it is extremely easy to go to the Play Store and install a competing app. They cite downloads of popular browsers such as Firefox and UC Browser to show how competition is not getting stifled.
Google reasons about the existence of its rules around baseline compatibility (called CTS), saying that these rules are in place to prevent the fragmentation that occurs in open-source platforms. Google says that the non-existence of these rules would hurt users, developers, and phone makers.
Further, Google will appeal against this fine, as they believe that the judgment is erroneous.
