Android's Free Isn't Free

Android's Free Isn't Free

Daring Fireball

From Skyhook's filing

23. On information and belief, Google has notified OEMs that they will need to use Google Location Service, either as a condition of the Android OS-OEM contract or as a condition of the Google Apps contract between Google and each OEM. Though Google claims the Android OS is open source, by requiring OEMs to use Google Location Service, an application that is inextricably bundled with the OS level framework, Google is effectively creating a closed system with respect to location positioning. Google's manipulation suggests that the true purpose of Android is, or has become, to ensure that "no industry player can restrict or control the innovations of any other", unless it is Google.

It is actually worse than this. Google is withholding the Marketplace from folks who want to make Android devices simply because they are not accepting new vendors. That's it - just because they don't like you. Not even for any specific strategic reason like this but perhaps just a whole slew of reasons.

While the source code for the Android Linux libraries are out there, you can't have the Marketplace. So you can't install apps.

I guess *somebody* needs to build a credible third-party app store for Android...