The Google Play Store is the default pre-installed app store on the vast majority of Android phones sold in Europe. Although there are alternative methods for installing apps, including competing stores, in practice most users have little reason to use anything other than the Play Store.
This possible monopoly was the subject of a gigantic demand in the United States, brought by 36 states and the District of Columbia for alleged anticompetitive practices; The States alleged that Google made changes to Android to force the user to use the Play Store, where the company collects a portion of all purchases.
Two years later, Google confirmed that it had reached an agreement with the plaintiffs last September which will allow it to avoid legal proceedings. As part of the agreement, Google will pay $700 million (640 million dollars) to a fund dedicated “for the benefit of users”; but for the average user, the changes that Android will receive may be more interesting.
Changes in Google Play
As part of the agreement, Google commits to making it easier to load apps, a process known as “side loading”; Basically, this means that installing apps that aren’t on Google Play will be easier than ever and with fewer obstacles.
In fact, it is already very easy to load Android applications that are not in the store; You only need to follow a few steps, but for the average user they may be too many, not to mention the technical language used. Currently, you have to go through a few warning messages with messages clearly stating that we are doing something dangerous, and that the installation of applications is blocked “for your security”. If we download an application in APK format from a website, for example, it will not allow us to install it until we have gone through the entire process of configuring permissions.
The new method is much simpler and direct, and its language is clearer. When we try to install an app that we didn’t get from the Play Store, now a pop-up message will appear which will indicate that the mobile is not configured to install it; The big difference is that we can activate the installation directly from this pop-up message with just one touch.
As confirmed by Google, the current two screens have been reduced to one, so it should be much easier for the average user. However, the warning will remain that installing applications from outside Google Play can put our mobile phone and data “at risk”; although this is a warning that users should always keep in mind when installing unknown apps (even if they are from trusted sources).
This change adds to others that the company has already announced for Android 14, such as greater compatibility with third-party stores. These stores will have access to functions previously exclusive to the Play Store, such as automatic updating of applications in the background. As part of the new agreement, Google also agrees to allow manufacturers provide the option to use the Play Store or another app store. Therefore, in the future it is very possible that more phones will come with two pre-installed app stores to use the one we want.
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