Google Mobile Services: Difference between revisions
mention more apps+APIs, add "Products" section in anticipation of cargo-metadata update |
mention GMS monopoly |
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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>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> | ||
* [[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/ |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> | ||
Google incentivizes developers to use GMS APIs and tries to lock them into them, 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]] | |||
Most of Google's own apps deliberately refuse to work when Play Services is disabled.{{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>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Quick_Search_Box</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 | ||
* ...<!--todo--> | *...<!--todo--> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||