Earlier this year, we talked about how Google might have to make some significant changes to Android in India, and while at that time, everything was hush-hush, things have started to move forward.
Renowned tipster Kuba Wojciechowski, has come across Google documentation that mentions just how Android phones will be different in India than they will be across the world.
Android phones in India will only come with Google Play Store as default, with the rest of the key Google apps being optional
Here's the tweet:
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 🧵👇
— kamila 🌸🏳️⚧️ (@Za_Raczke) February 18, 2023
Wojciechowski also goes into detail, talking about how Android phones in India will get a specific version of Google Mobile Services with optional Google apps. There is going to be an Indian Mobile Application Distribution (IMADA), and this condition will be a part of it. IMADA will be between OEMS and Google, which will differ from what is globally accepted.
For those who don't know, the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement or MADA that is globally accepted lists 11 Google apps. In contrast, IMADA will only require the Play Store to be installed.
Second element is the reduction of required user-facing apps.
In normal MADA there are currently 11 required apps, as listed below. In IMADA the only required app is the Play Store, but OEMs can decide to preload any combination they want. pic.twitter.com/GI64PXscFu
— kamila 🌸🏳️⚧️ (@Za_Raczke) February 18, 2023
This is where things get interesting. Android phones in India could also come without Google search bar, app folder, or Play Store icon on the home screen, all thanks to the IMADA. Users will also be able to use their default search engine when setting up their phone. You can expect this to start happening somewhere in the second quarter of this year.
Thankfully, Android users worldwide don't have to worry about it. However, the change is going to clearly affect Google as the company occupies over 40% market share in India, and this change is clearly not going to make the search engine giant happy.
We are not sure if similar changes are going to make their way to the rest of the world, but we will keep you posted as we move forward. Let us know your thoughts below.
About the author: I have been tinkering with Android devices ever since the early days of the HTC Desire. Over time, I have grown a fondness for the ecosystem and now I cannot live without it. Although some might believe that I have sold my soul to Android, but I believe it is not the case. You can find me writing tutorials and posting guides on a number of different smartphones. When I am not writing here, I am wasting myself away in books, journals, or on Steam.
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