Google's 'anti-competitive' Android moves could impact Xbox, Windows 11

Google is being slapped with a suite of anti-trust lawsuits as part of a larger pushback in the U.S. into anti-competitive monopolistic practices past "large tech" (via The Verge). Equally part of the legal proceedings, the prosecution is outlining a range of scummy moves by everyone's favorite data-harvesting search monopoly designed to stifle competition.

The moves range from forcing Android handset manufacturers to pre-install up to thirty Google services, give them "favorable" home screen placement, while making them "impossible" to delete, which the lawsuit alleges stifles competition from other solutions. Google is also ready to ditch installable APKs for apps, which will go far more difficult for competing Android stores to curate and offer content, such as the Samsung Galaxy Store, Amazon app shop, and the upcoming Windows xi Android integration feature.

Among the most impactful for Microsoft potentially is this new change to subscription-based services, which will, like Apple tree'due south iOS, exist banned from informing users how to sign up via the web. Services similar Office, OneDrive, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and beyond, may have to give Google a 30 percent cut of in-app subscriptions, or they'll be banned from helping users to sign upwardly via tertiary-party web-based ways.

Later this yr, streaming apps volition have to offering Google in-app purchases. If they don't, they're disallowed from even hinting that there are other ways to subscribe outside the Play Store.

Merely like on iOS. pic.twitter.com/dmLg5gQCqt

— Dieter Bohn (@backlon) July viii, 2022

While this isn't going to stop anyone who is determined to sign up for Xbox Game Laissez passer, Netflix, and other similar services, it does disrupt the usual buy flow for potential customers on Android and will touch the power of these services to acquire users.

Apple has faced mounting pressure level from regulators and the public alike over the raw deal information technology offers developers on its platform, facing a fruitless but rather embarrassing lawsuit with Epic Games over Fortnite, which is currently effectively banned from iOS devices for offering users a way to learn in-app purchases without using the Apple Store. Microsoft as well pivoted the development of an iOS native app for Xbox Game Laissez passer to edifice a web app instead, considering Apple tree's xxx percent fee on top of the arbitrary requirement for games to be divide entities would've fabricated the business there unviable.

Xbox Game Pass Sign Up Method Source: Windows Fundamental Xbox Game Pass on Android helps users sign up on the web right now, but Google is reportedly seeking to ban that practise.

Google has responded to the multi-state accusations in a blog mail service, alleging that information technology is "open" and fosters competitiveness. Although, the evidence offered in the legal complaint seems to suggest otherwise. You need only search in Google (or Bing 😉) for "Google fined" to discover a plethora of instances where the company has failed to appeal anti-trust allegations. They say in that location'south no smoke without fire, after all.

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