Google mobile apps unbundling to start by Friday deadline, say OEMs

The tech giant may discuss with the CCI its plan to comply with its order on Friday

Google is working with mobile device OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to unbundle the distribution of Play Store, which is currently linked to OEMs having to mandatorily pre-install a suite of around nine leading apps.

Its implementation is expected to happen immediately after Google informs and discusses with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) its plan to comply with the antitrust body’s order on Friday.

OEM sources say Google might be able to start unbundling by the Friday deadline given by the Supreme Court for implementation of the CCI order.

If not, it can go back to the Supreme Court to ask for more time. The unbundling plan by Google is much more comprehensive than it suggested earlier during the Supreme Court hearing. It had told the court that it would unbundle Google Search and Google Chrome from Google Play and Google Chrome from Google Search.        

However, based on OEM discussions, Google is expected to tell the CCI that it will require more time to implement other |parts of the CCI order, such as allowing rival app stores to sit inside Google Play Store (known as sideloading). 

The reason is security and malware issues, which Google will not be able to control. Google declined to comment on the issues and discussions with OEMs.  

Sources say that Google has told mobile device makers that it already allows sideloading. For example, the apps of many gaming companies can be downloaded from their websites. Google has a pop-up warning telling users of possible harm to the device or personal data. The CII order says this must end.  

Sources in the know say OEMs will now have choices. They can distribute only the Play Store without the suite of Google apps; they can agree to continue with the current bundling model; or they can choose from the bouquet of the nine apps as to which one they want.  

The CCI order also offers consumers the choice of uninstalling any of the Google apps. Those aware of the development say, to do all these, the current Mobile Applications Distribution Agreement (MADA) will need some tweaks and a reworked license agreement would be offered to all OEMs.

The apps which OEMs currently have to bundle under MADA include YouTube, Duo, Chrome, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies, Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive, among others.    

Sources aware of the development say that Google will be implementing parts of the CCI order immediately.

But in areas where the technology has to be tweaked specifically for India, or where there are other challenges, Google might ask for a few more extra weeks from the CCI.

Where there are technological challenges, Google may need broader discussions with the CII and one such area could be Android forks.

The open source Android is picked up by many developers to create their own variation which is called an Android fork. Manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC have done so.

The CCI order says that Google cannot deny its play services to these Android forks which do not have Google apps installed.        

Those aware of the development say that what Google is prepared to unbundle in India far exceeds what it is prepared to do in Europe.

There, it has merely agreed to unbundle Google Search and Google Chrome from the Play Store, as compared with India where it will be unbundling all nine apps.

On the issue of Android forks, the European Commission’s direction was limited to tablets and smartphones but the CCI’s order covers all devices including smartphones.