Indian Government Forces Google to Bring Out a Variant of Google’s Mobile Services: Here’s Why

After the previous two lawsuits filed against Google for its dominance over digital advertising and online search, the Indian government has come forward, forcing Google to bring out a variant of its Google Mobile Services (GMS).

Here’s more about it.

Here are the Four Elements of the New Agreement

As per what the Indian government has instructed OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), they are given two options. They can either release the devices under MADA (Mobile Application Distribution Agreement) or under IMADA. The IMADA will only have reduced requirements.

If the original equipment manufacturers or OEMS release their products under IMADA, the product can only be shipped within India, however, if they decide to release it under MADA, the OEMs will be able to ship it anywhere around the world except in EEA(European Economic Area), Turkey, Russia, and Belarus.

It is to be noted that in EEA or European Economic Area, products can only be released under EMADA, in Turkey under TMADA whereas in Russia and Belarus, it is released under MADA with some modifications.

The second element states that, under MADA, the product will require a total of 11 user-facing apps which includes Google Play Store, Google Search, Google Chrome, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Meet, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play Movies, and TV, YouTube, and YouTube Music. On the other hand, the only required app under IMADA is the Google Play Store. IMADA also asks OEMs to include core services like GmsCore and others that are required on the device.

IMADA also doesn’t ask original equipment manufacturers to place a Google Search Bar, a Google Folder, or a Google Play Store icon on the phone’s home screen. OEMs are also asked to place a menu where users get to choose their default search engine on the initial setup page itself.

The last and final element is about the per-app bounty for smartphones having any one of the 11 core apps of Google. However, the details regarding the price and the means through which it is paid are still not clear.

India's government has recently forced Google to provide a variant of GMS where all the apps are optional. I have been provided access to a document that outlines the changes, thread 🧵👇

— Kuba Wojciechowski 🌺 (@Za_Raczke) February 18, 2023