Is Google blocking forks on the road?
Big Tech faces music from competitors around the world, but Google had an unusually tough day on June 22, 2021. First, the European Commission (EC) has launched an antitrust investigation into Googles behavior in the online advertising technology sector. Hours later, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered an investigation into Googles behavior in the smart TV (STV) sector. CCI suspects that Google is preventing STV makers from using a modified version of the Android operating system (OS), also known as the Android fork. A known fork developed by Amazon is Fire OS. Despite its success with Amazons TV sticks, Fire OS has yet to mark Indias leading STV makers. Some industry experts believe this may be due to Googles anti-fork practices. Since 2015, Amazon and Goggle have been in the head of loggerhead turtles trying to truncate each other. First, Amazon has stopped selling Chromecast and Google Home on its website. Google then blocked YouTube from Amazons products. The two companies called a truce in 2019. Since then, YouTube has been available on the Fire Stick / Alexa, and Google Home and Chromecast support Amazon Prime Video. There may be no more discord between the two companies, but Googles policy protects Android from fork competition. If the device manufacturer pre-installs the Play Store on their Android device, they must sign a contract with Google called the Android Compatibility Commitment (ACC). ACC prohibits device manufacturers from using forks throughout their device portfolio. Due to Androids large market share, it would be commercially feasible for most device manufacturers to not include Android devices in their portfolio and would not handle forks at all. Lack of demand hinders investment in fork development. This hinders innovation and limits consumer choice to newer versions of Android for a better experience. CCI complaints were filed by two individuals claiming that Googles contracts with STV makers such as Xiaomi and TCL restrict the use of Android forks on their devices. Another claim is that STV makers need to pre-install the entire suite of Google Apps and cant choose an app for their device. This allows you to protect or strengthen Googles market position in other products such as Internet Search (Google Search), Video Streaming (YouTube), and Web Browser (Chrome). These claims are similar to those made to Google in the case of smartphones under CCI investigation. Interestingly, this is the fourth survey CCI has ordered Google. Another ongoing investigation into Google is related to Google Pay (Google tax case). In 2018, CCI penalized Google for exploiting its advantage in the online search market. While many countries have investigated Googles behavior in the smartphone OS market, India may have first investigated Googles policy in the STVOS space. In 2018, the EC fined Google $ 4.3 billion for banning device makers from using forks and requiring them to pre-install their own apps on Android-based devices. Google appealed to the ECs decision, but Googles senior vice president, Rockheimer Hiroshi, wrote a blog. According to ECs Android decision, Android partners wishing to distribute Google apps in the future may build incompatible or forked smartphones and tablets for the European Economic Area (EEA). Stated. Interestingly, the petitioner told CCI that Google has already changed the contract under the 2018 EC order. Only a CCI study will reveal if changes have been made to the Indian market, but STV maker Onida offers both Android STVs. And Indian Fire OS based STV. If the CCI query actually makes a market fix, Android users may get the option to choose from a list of apps instead of enduring the pre-installed Google apps. You can even add a Fire Stick interface to your favorite brand of STV and Alexa to your remote control without having to buy an additional TV stick. Currently, I could only imagine the comfort of working with one remote control. Its the same with Alexa. This is what competition law can do: ensure profits for consumers through more choices at better prices. Vivek Agarwal is a DMD Advocates partner and competition law. These are his personal views. Subscribe to the Mint newsletter  *Please enter a valid email address  * Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download the app now! Sources 1/ https://Google.com/ 2/ https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/is-google-jamming-a-fork-in-the-road-11625381098004.html The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article  What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online  LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. 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