This point doesn't support your first sentence then because this policy of the Open Handset Alliance existed before Google was in a position to bully, before Android had any market share at all. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Handset_Alliance?wprov=...
While it might not be an official requirement, being granted a Google apps license will go a whole lot easier if you join the Open Handset Alliance. The OHA is a group of companies committed to Android—Google's Android—and members are contractually prohibited from building non-Google approved devices. That's right, joining the OHA requires a company to sign its life away and promise to not build a device that runs a competing Android fork.
Besides, even in 2008, what other OS were OEMs going to license to compete with the iPhone? Windows Mobile?
(Citation #5 as of this writing) https://www.cnet.com/news/alibaba-google-just-plain-wrong-ab...
Google took some heat earlier this week for seemingly using its clout to squash a burgeoning mobile OS.
(Citation #6 as of this writing) https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on...
While it might not be an official requirement, being granted a Google apps license will go a whole lot easier if you join the Open Handset Alliance. The OHA is a group of companies committed to Android—Google's Android—and members are contractually prohibited from building non-Google approved devices. That's right, joining the OHA requires a company to sign its life away and promise to not build a device that runs a competing Android fork.
Besides, even in 2008, what other OS were OEMs going to license to compete with the iPhone? Windows Mobile?