Google Mobile Services: Difference between revisions
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Google Mobile Services (GMS) is a suite of proprietary [[Android]] applications and APIs produced by [[Google]] that has existed since 2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Play services 1 APK Download by Google LLC |url=https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/google-play-services-1-release/google-play-services-1-android-apk-download/ |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=APKMirror}}</ref>. GMS provides both user-facing apps and developer-facing features for other apps via [[Google Play Services]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android - Google Mobile Services |url=https://www.android.com/gms/ |access-date=2026-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Package Index | [[wikipedia:Google_Mobile_Services|Google Mobile Services]] (GMS) is a suite of proprietary [[Android]] applications and APIs produced by [[Google]] that has existed since 2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Play services 1 APK Download by Google LLC |url=https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/google-play-services-1-release/google-play-services-1-android-apk-download/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501174642/https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/google-play-services-1-release/google-play-services-1-android-apk-download/ |archive-date=2025-05-01 |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=[[APKMirror]]}}</ref>. GMS provides both user-facing apps and developer-facing features for other apps via [[Google Play Services]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Android - Google Mobile Services |url=https://www.android.com/gms/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403095132/https://www.android.com/gms/ |archive-date=2026-04-03 |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=[[Android]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Package Index |url=https://developers.google.com/android/reference/packages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310230855/https://developers.google.com/android/reference/packages |archive-date=2026-03-10 |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=[[Google Play Services]]}}</ref> | ||
This includes: | This includes: | ||
* the core suite of '''Google apps''' (GApps), such as | *the core suite of '''Google apps''' (GApps), such as | ||
** [[Google Chrome|Chrome]] | **[[Google Chrome|Chrome]] | ||
** Gmail | **Gmail | ||
** Maps | **Maps | ||
** [[Google Play Store|Play Store]] | **[[Google Play Store|Play Store]] | ||
* '''[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Services|Play Services]]''' (which [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms contains <code>gms</code> in its package-name])<ref>https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation/blob/d288860ac8099c454e570d20e55b6923f57edb67/resources/assets/uad_lists.json#L28942-L28944</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How Google Play services works on your device |url=https://support.google.com/android/answer/12319308 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228123636/https://support.google.com/android/answer/12319308 |archive-date=2025-12-28 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=Android Help}}</ref> | *'''[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Services|Play Services]]''' (which [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms contains <code>gms</code> in its package-name])<ref>{{Cite web |title=universal-android-debloater-next-generation |url=https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation/blob/d288860ac8099c454e570d20e55b6923f57edb67/resources/assets/uad_lists.json#L28942-L28944 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260329063301/https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation/blob/d288860ac8099c454e570d20e55b6923f57edb67/resources/assets/uad_lists.json#L28942-L28944 |archive-date=2026-03-29 |website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How Google Play services works on your device |url=https://support.google.com/android/answer/12319308 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228123636/https://support.google.com/android/answer/12319308 |archive-date=2025-12-28 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=Android Help}}</ref> | ||
* [[Google Play Integrity API|Play Integrity]] and Play Protect | *[[Google Play Integrity API|Play Integrity]] and Play Protect | ||
* [[Android System SafetyCore|SafetyCore]] | *[[Android System SafetyCore|SafetyCore]] | ||
* [[Android Auto]] | *[[Android Auto]] | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
GMS comes preinstalled on Google certified devices, leading to high market saturation among Android devices.{{Citation needed}} It's components are installed as system applications<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=2013-09-02 |title=Balky carriers and slow OEMs step aside: Google is defragging Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205043322/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/ |archive-date=2013-12-05 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>, making removal through standard methods impossible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hassan |first=Sadique |date=2025-06-11 |title=How to Uninstall System Apps Without Root |url=https://droidwin.com/how-to-uninstall-system-apps-without-root/ |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=Droidwin}}</ref>{{ | {{Ph-C-CIS}}GMS comes preinstalled on Google certified devices, leading to high market saturation among Android devices.{{Citation needed}} It's components are installed as system applications<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=2013-09-02 |title=Balky carriers and slow OEMs step aside: Google is defragging Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205043322/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/ |archive-date=2013-12-05 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>, making removal through standard methods impossible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hassan |first=Sadique |date=2025-06-11 |title=How to Uninstall System Apps Without Root |url=https://droidwin.com/how-to-uninstall-system-apps-without-root/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250802011349/https://droidwin.com/how-to-uninstall-system-apps-without-root/ |archive-date=2025-08-02 |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=[[Droidwin]]}}</ref> | ||
Google incentivizes developers to use (and depend on) GMS APIs in order to lock them in. This increases dependence on GMS and contributes to Google's monopoly on Android.{{Citation needed}} | |||
Some examples of 3rd-party apps that break when Play Services is disabled: | |||
*[[WhatsApp]] | |||
*[[Discord]] | |||
*Apps that use the Google Play Integrity API (some online banking apps for example) | |||
Most of Google's own apps deliberately refuse to work when Play Services is disabled.{{Citation needed}} | |||
In order to bundle/pre-install any GApp, OEMs are legally required by Google to install the entire "core suite" of GApps, including Play Store and Play Services.{{Citation needed}} | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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On January 22, 2025, Google quietly rolled out Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices via GMS. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices. | On January 22, 2025, Google quietly rolled out Android System SafetyCore to all Android devices via GMS. The installation of the program neither informed consumers that it was installed, nor did it request consumers to install it onto their devices. | ||
== Products == | ==Products== | ||
* [[Google]] Search app (circa 2009<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Quick_Search_Box</ref>) | *[[Google]] Search app (circa 2009<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Macaddct1984 |date=2009-06-07 |title=Google Quick Search Box |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Quick_Search_Box |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202061640/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Quick_Search_Box |archive-date=2026-02-02 |access-date= |website=[[Wikipedia]]}}</ref>) | ||
* [[YouTube]] app (insert release date): [[Pay-walling|Paywalled]] "background play" and "offline" behind Premium | *[[YouTube]] app (insert release date): [[Pay-walling|Paywalled]] "background play" and "offline" behind Premium | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Bloatware]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||