Google is revising its business deals with phone makers and other partners in India and making a number of other changes in the South Asian market to comply with the local antitrust watchdog.

A major move that could prompt regulators in other regions to make similar proposals.

The Android maker, which was fined $161 million by India’s competition commission last year and ordered to make a series of changes to its business practices.

Said on Wednesday it will allow smartphone vendors in India to license individual apps. pre-installed on their Android devices.

Google will also give consumers the option to switch search engines and use third-party billing options for app and game purchases on the Play Store starting next month.

The Competition Commission of India has ordered Google not to force smartphone makers to include so many Google apps on their mobile phones by default.

The company has also asked to allow users to remove Google apps, use third-party billing options in the Play Store, and change their search engine if they wish.

Google said it will continue to appeal the Competition Commission of India’s guidelines. But it continues to make changes to comply with the law of the land.

The changes are limited to the company’s business practices in India.

The move follows Google’s warning that following the CCI’s guidelines would drive up device prices in the world’s.

Second-largest smartphone market and lead to the proliferation of unchecked apps that will pose a threat to both individual and state security.

India is an important market for Google with over half a billion users. According to research firm Counterpoint.

Over 97% of all smartphones in India are powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system.

Invest

Google has poured billions into the country over the past decade and is set to invest another $10 billion.
Below is the full set of key changes that Google is making in India:

OEMs will be able to license individual Google apps for pre-installation on their devices.

Android users have always been able to customize their devices to suit their preferences.

Indian users will now be able to choose their default search engine through a selection screen that will soon start appearing when a user in India sets up a new Android smartphone or tablet.

We are updating the Android compatibility requirements to introduce changes for partners when creating incompatible or forked variants.

User-selectable billing will be available for all apps and games starting next month.

Through user-choice billing, developers can offer users the option to choose an alternative billing system in addition to Google Play’s billing system when purchasing digital content in-app.

Andriod

Android has always supported installing apps from a variety of sources, including sideloading, which involves downloading apps directly from a developer’s website.

We recently made changes to the Android installation flow and automatic update capability for side-loading apps and app stores, while ensuring that users understand the potential security risks.

Earlier this month, India’s Supreme Court rejected Google’s plea to block the CCI’s order. Google had until Thursday to comply with the antitrust regulator’s order.

“Implementing these changes across the ecosystem will be a complex process and will require significant work on our end.

In many cases, significant effort from partners, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and developers,” Google said Wednesday.

“Our commitment to Indian users and the country’s digital transformation remains unwavering.”
The Android maker, which was fined $161 million by India’s competition commission last year and ordered to make a series of changes to its business practices.

On Wednesday it will allow smartphone vendors in India to license individual apps. pre-installed on their Android devices.

Google will also give consumers the option to switch search engines and use third-party billing options for app and game purchases on the Play Store starting next month.

The Competition Commission of India has ordered Google not to force smartphone makers to include so many Google apps on their mobile phones by default.

The company has also asked to allow users to remove Google apps, use third-party billing options in the Play Store, and change their search engine if they wish.

Sources: Techcrunch | yahoo.com