Google policy overhaul: India's smartphone makers, Android users get better control
Google's new policy changes came in effect from January 25, 2023
A day after India's top court refused to block an antitrust watchdog ruling against Alphabet-owned Google, the company has made key changes in its rulebook that include removing restrictions on smartphone makers related to pre-installation of apps. Google will no longer have exclusivity to web search in the world's second largest smartphone market.
Google rulebook overhaul: What will change for India's Android users?
Alphabet-owned Google will now prompt Android smartphone users in India to choose their own search engine while setting up a new smartphone. Until Wednesday, this wasn't the case. Nearly all Android smartphones had Google as the default search engine.
ALSO READ |Google to cooperate with India antitrust watchdog after Android ruling
This means that while setting up the smartphone, a user will have the freedom to choose its default search engine other than Google, such as Bing or DuckDuckGo.
Smartphone makers will now be able to build approved, forked versions of Android, clearing the path for India's home-grown smartphone operating system, BharOS.
ALSO WATCH |Gravitas: Google loses anti-trust battle in India
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Google said that it will now allow smartphone makers "licence individual Google apps" to preinstall on their devices. This means that it will now depend on the smartphone-maker which Google apps will be pre-installed in the smartphone.
What changes for smartphone makers?
The cost of a smartphone, in-part, depends on the number of applications it is equipped with on a pre-installed basis. This means that if a smartphone-maker wants to launch a super affordable device, it can do so by reducing the number of Alphabet-owned applications.
Other than this, Google is already letting users in India choose a billing system other than Google Play when making in-app purchases. This way, the app and game developers will get a larger share of their profits.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.