I see even Google requiring OEMs to pay for the apps to be included as a good thing.
However, what the EU should have done - and can still do - is force Google not do bundle Play Services with its other apps or Android in general. If Google's other apps don't work without the Play Services framework, well, that's Google's problem, isn't it? And maybe then it should make its apps more interoperable with other frameworks.
This was written by someone who either failed to fully read Google's statement or who is being paid to make the EU look bad, as it's very misrepresentative of what just took place.
I've emailed the senior editor to ask who wrote it, as it appears Bloomberg is hiding their identity behind the "Editorial Board" account.
I’m usually on Europe’s side against tech giants (Facebook fine, google antitrust fine, WhatsApp, mostly for unfair Ireland loophole with apple taxes) but this looks incredibly dumb to me. I’m fairly anti google but now that they have a 90% market share I want them to charge a ton for each phone and force someone to create a brand new OS that competes with android or iOS, fix all the security, convince developers to build for that, market it to millions, force a satisfied consumer base to learn a new OS and deal with a brand new UI.
This is a complete Google win. Now they can charge without looking bad.
Google's not going to be making any more money under this plan, and that's my point: This Bloomberg article has suggested a completely fictional interpretation of events.
Google previously offered a single bundle of apps, one that contained apps that it made money on, and one that contained apps that cost them money. Since OEMs are required to include all of them, Google charges $0 for them.
Now, they'll have two bundles: One that phone makers will pay for, and one that phone makers will be paid to include. If they're still getting both bundles, it's a wash. Again, $0 changes hands.
But what could happen now that it's unbundled, is Bing could pay to have Bing preloaded instead by outbidding Google, and then they can still pay for the Play Store and such. In that scenario, the OEM actually saves money under this change, because there's competition to Google now, where that wasn't possible before. Bing would pay the OEM per phone more than the OEM has to pay Google for the Play Store.
However, what the EU should have done - and can still do - is force Google not do bundle Play Services with its other apps or Android in general. If Google's other apps don't work without the Play Services framework, well, that's Google's problem, isn't it? And maybe then it should make its apps more interoperable with other frameworks.