Google To Change How Android Operates In India After Antitrust Ruling: Here's How
Google announced on Wednesday that it was making various changes to its Android ecosystem after strict antitrust directives were upheld against the US tech giant last week.
Now, Google will allow device manufacturers in India to license individual apps for pre-installation. The company will also let users choose their default search engine.
Last week, the Supreme Court upheld antitrust orders against Google after the company challenged a ruling by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The ruling asserted that Google had been using its market position to prioritise its own services and ordered Google to make changes.
Google to make sweeping changes
"Implementation of these changes across the ecosystem will be a complex process and will require significant work at our end and, in many cases, significant efforts from partners, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and developers," Google said in a blog post.
Google will also now let users choose their preferred mode of billing for apps and games starting next month. "Through user choice billing, developers can offer users the option to choose an alternative billing system alongside Google Play’s billing system when purchasing in-app digital content," the post said.
Also read:?Explained: How Will The CCI Ruling Affect Google?
Google has been pushing back against antitrust rulings in India and the world. Earlier, Google had accused the CCI of copy-pasting European Commission's landmark 2018 ruling against Google. It fined Google $4.3 billion for unlawful restriction on Android device makers and the tech giant is challenging the fine.
In October, the CCI ruled that Alphabet-owned Google exploited its market dominance, restricted device makers from pre-loading apps, and prevented users from using other search engines. A fine of $161 million (Rs. 1,300 crore) was also imposed.
Google warned the Supreme Court that this ruling would slow down the growth of Android ecosystem and that it would be forced to rework its arrangements with 1,100 device manufacturers and thousands of app developers.
Also read:?India's Antitrust Body Denies 'Copy-Pasting' EU's Order Against Google
But the Supreme Court did not block the rulings on Google's request. "We continue to respectfully appeal certain aspects of the CCI’s decisions and will champion our core principles of openness, expanding user choice, providing transparency and maintaining safety and security that have served the interests of the larger ecosystem," Google wrote.
What do you think about Google's antitrust troubles in India? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.
