Google allegedly paid manufacturers not to include alternative app stores

However, Google prefers to use only Play Store, as Play Store generates huge revenue. According to the documents related to the lawsuit between Epic and Google, Google paid bonuses to manufacturers Not Pre-install other app stores on their phones.

According to the document, the initiative has been called the Premium Hardware Program, starting in 2019. Manufacturers who have avoided adding other app stores have reportedly earned 12 percent of Google’s search engine revenue on manufacturers’ phones, instead of 8 percent.

Some manufacturers, such as LG and Motorola, should also have received a bonus in the form of 3-6 percent of revenue from the Play Store. According to the report, the giant BBK allowed about 70 percent of their phones to be part of the program, while Sony and Xiaomi used the benefits for about half of their devices.

Epic believes this is non-competitive behaviour. Documents from the lawsuit also indicate a similar initiative. Google is said to have made deals with more than 20 of the most successful game developers on the Play Store, to keep them there rather than investing in their own app stores like Epic initially, or using other alternative stores.

Google says in a comment that Google Play competes with other app stores on both Android devices and competing operating systems, and that useful software is a sign of “healthy competition between operating systems and app stores”.

Google Play competes with other app stores on competing Android devices and operating systems to attract developers and business interest. We have longstanding software in place that supports best-in-class developers with enhanced resources and investments to help them reach more customers through Google Play.

These programs are a sign of healthy competition between operating systems and app stores and benefit developers greatly.