Google's Android Mobile Application Distribution Agreement With OEMs Leaked, Reveals Lots Of Strict Conditions

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Published on February 13, 2014

by Pradeep Viswav

published on February 13, 2014

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For the usage of Play Store and Android, Google signs the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) with OEMs like Samsung, HTC, LG, etc,. We have known very little about this agreement Google signs with OEMs. Today, Google’s Mobile Application Distribution Agreement with HTC got leaked on the internet and it reveals lots of strict policies that Google demand from OEMs. For example, you need to install all Google apps, Google Search should be the default search provider, Google’s Network Location Provider service must be installed by default and more.

To distribute Google’s mobile applications—Google Search, Maps, YouTube, Calendar, Gmail, Talk, the Play app store, and more—a phone manufacturer needs a license from Google, called a Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). Key provisions of the MADA:

“Devices may only be distributed if all Google Applications [listed elsewhere in the agreement] … are pre-installed on the Device.” See MADA section 2.1.

The phone manufacturer must “preload all Google Applications approved in the applicable Territory … on each device.” See MADA section 3.4(1).

The phone manufacturer must place “Google’s Search and the Android Market Client icon [Google Play] … at least on the panel immediately adjacent to the Default Home Screen,” with “all other Google Applications … no more than one level below the Phone Top.” See MADA Section 3.4(2)-(3).

The phone manufacturer must set “Google Search … as the default search provider for all Web search access points.” See MADA Section 3.4(4).

Google’s Network Location Provider service must be preloaded and the default. See MADA Section 3.8(c).

EC is ending its investigation on Google’s unfair search practices in the coming months. I guess Google’s Android practices may be the next one for European Commission to investigate. Read more about it from the link below.

Source: Benedelman