Governments worldwide are increasingly regulating the duopoly of Apple and Google in smartphone software, and Mexico has made a significant move against Android’s dominance. The country’s National Antitrust Commission has mandated that Google eliminate restrictive clauses from its contracts with smartphone manufacturers. This development allows these manufacturers to create and distribute devices with alternative operating systems without facing contractual penalties. This change opens the possibility for companies like Samsung to potentially launch future Galaxy phones with their own proprietary software instead of relying on Android. While this doesn’t mean we’ll see Motorola phones running iOS, it grants manufacturers the freedom to develop their own software or customize the open-source Android platform. Previously, Google had required manufacturers to adhere to compatibility and exclusivity agreements to maintain access to Google Mobile Services, limiting their ability to explore other operating systems.
Has Google Lost a Major Antitrust Battle Over Android?
