What is Google that makes profits from open source Android?

Small> ByEtnyk

Google is "Open Source"As I repeatedly use the word for its products, I'm more committed to open source, and" Android "for mobile information terminals such as smartphones and tablets is also one of the free platforms Google offers open source is. If it is open source and free, then Google has released its curiosity to the public how and how the Google benefits from Android.

How Google controls Android's open-source software | Technology | theguardian.com
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/23/how-google-controls-androids-open-source-software

Open source Android is available for free download by everyone, but Google's official apps such as "Maps" "Gmail" "Google Play" are not included. You can say that Android is not functionally incomplete without implementation of "Google Play" online store where you can purchase the application.

To implement official Google apps such as Google Play and Maps on your device, the manufacturer of the device "Google Mobile Services (GMS)You must acquire a license called ". Manufacturers need to purchase GMS licenses for each device, according to information the The Guardian got, the GMS license will cost $ 75,000 per 100,000 tablets (about 7,700,000 yen), about one It will be 75 cents (about 77 yen).

ByAsim Bharwani

More than 1 million Android devices are getting GMS licenses every day, which means that we are selling about 100 million dollars (about 10.3 billion yen) quarterly by license fee alone. According to leading sources contacted by The Guardian, Google seems to avoid clear comments on GMS license fees.

Source source person said, "To avoid damaging the reputation of Google that makes open source our company's selling, Google does not disclose information on GMS license.The license fee is based on the size of the manufacturer and the ordering device There is no clear price list, etc. Negotiation of the license fee is completed by transactions between individuals, and it is completely unknown about details ", he said.

Larger companies among OEM manufacturers have gained GMS licenses through appropriate processes, but small manufacturers do not acquire GMS licenses but have Google's Android application. While it is illegal to have Google's app on the device without acquiring a GMS license, as Google does not have a department to monitor the acquisition of GMS licenses, it is unlikely that a small manufacturer will not apply for a GMS license It seems to be silent.

ByJake Maymar

In 2010, Skyhook urged Motorola to ask Google to adopt Google's technology on Android devices instead of Skyhook, "One case against GoogleThen, it turns out that Google had sprung Compatibility Standards (compatibility standard) to let OEM makers demand their own. Compatibility Standards is one of the tests you must clear at the very beginning to acquire GMS licenses. However, it is very difficult for a small maker to clear the Compatibility Standards, so eventually inviting you to install Google's app on your device without acquiring a license.

ByAdam

Given the fact that GMS licenses are distributed for a fee, the claim that Android is open source is only partially correct. Also, unlike Linux and MySQL, which are open source, Android can not do important changes like changing the direction of software unless it is inside of Google, so we can not help putting a question mark whether it really can be called open source ... apparently ...

2013/01/25 12:35 Addendum
According to the information that the Guardian explicitly stated from Google, obtaining a GMS license itself will not cost you, but it will cost you a test to get it. Manufacturers are supposed to pay a test fee to Foxconn or Archos which carries out the test.