Google Mobile Services
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2014) |
Google Mobile Services (GMS) are the apps by Google that often come pre-installed on Android devices. 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 license fees.
GMS consists of two parts; a popular bundle package and an other bundle package. In order to gain a license for GMS, the popular bundle package needs to be pre-installed by Android device manufactures, which are usually called pre-loaded apps.[1]
Popular bundled GMS apps
Google Search
Google Search is the core application of Google, which provides Android users with search functionality in order to find what they need on the web and on their Android devices.
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser. It allows users to surf the web simply and easily.[2]
YouTube
YouTube is an online site which allows people to share and view videos. All the users subscriptions and videos will automatically be synchronised to their Google accounts, for easy access across all devices.[3]
Google Play Store
 | This section contains promotional content. (July 2020) |
The Google Play Store consists of almost three million apps. It also has a large collection of e-books, songs and movies.
Other bundled GMS apps
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.[4] The firms were joined together under the name FairSearch, and the main firms included were Microsoft, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Nokia and Oracle.[4] 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.[5] Google swiftly responded stating that they "continue to work co-operatively with the European Commission".[6]
Aptoide
A third-party Android app store Aptoide also filed an EU competition complaint against Google once again stating that they are misusing its power within the market.[7] 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.[7]
Privacy policy
At the same time, Google faced problems with various European data protection agencies, most notably in the UK 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".[6] Google once again came out and stated that their new policies still abide by EU laws.[6]
See also
- Google Play Services
- List of Google apps for Android
- Microsoft Mobile Services
- Huawei Mobile Services
References
- ^ [1], Google Mobile Services, Motorola, 21 May 2014. Retrieved on 17 October no2014.
- ^ [2], Chrome. Retrieved on 17 October 2014.
- ^ [3], Youtube. Retrieved on 24 October 2014.
- ^ a b [4], Rivals claim Google's 'deceptive' use of Android has been anti-competitive, 9 April 2013. Retrieved on 19 October 2014.
- ^ [5], European regulators training sights on Google's mobile software,31 July 2014, Retrieved on 19 October 2014.
- ^ a b c [6], Microsoft accuses Google of pushing services to Android, 9 April 2013, Retrieved on 19 October 2014.
- ^ a b [7], Google faces EU competition complaint over Android apps, Liam Tung, 18 June 2014, Retrieved on 19 October 2014.