Developers want to cut Google out of Android
Privacy and regulation fears spur an Android reboot – but can it succeed without Google?
PRIVACY AND COMPETITION concerns could lead to a new strain of Android that cuts Google out of its own OS.
Growing concerns over data collection and a perceived lack of choice provides an opportunity for a mobile platform that isn’t controlled by a major tech giant, according to the head of Project eelo, a rival Android-based platform.
Project eelo would be an Android fork that eliminates all Google services and data collection. There are plans to launch a test version and unveil its open-source repository to a wider team of developers in August, with backers receiving pre-loaded handsets in October.
“There are growing issues and concerns over user’s data privacy and these are becoming geopolitical issues,” Gaël Duval, eelo founder, told
PC Pro. “You should be able to use a phone without giving away your data and I wanted to free myself from the smartphone duopoly and regain control over my data privacy.”
Coming off the back of the Facebook scandal and increased scrutiny of the way tech giants collect data, eelo could hardly be better timed. Yet, analysts still question whether enough people care about privacy to change their handset OS.
“A privacy-conscious third platform would have limited appeal to the public, since the smartphone market is so far ahead with Android and Apple,” said Ramon Llamas, research director for mobile devices market watcher IDC.
“That’s not to say that it won’t survive. There are still pockets of interest for high-privacy, highsecurity devices.”
Competition concerns
The launch comes as EU regulators are set to rule on whether Google – which was last year fined $2.4 billion fine for abusing its dominance in search – breached more antitrust regulations by forcing handset makers to install Google’s other products.
All the indications suggest that another big fine is coming, with some commentators suggesting that could spark calls for a break-up of Google.
According to Duval, the antitrust case means that a forked version of Android could actually be positive for Google, as it would be evidence of consumer choice. “There is a duopoly in place in the smartphone industry where regular users have a choice between either Apple or any other vendor running Android,” he said. “Google wants to prevent Android fragmentation, but this is one of the things that puts Google in a monopolistic situation, and that’s actually not really good for the company.”
The idea of non-Google Android devices might seem counter-intuitive, but is by no means unheard of. The Android fork found in Amazon’s Kindle Fire
devices is almost devoid of Google products and services, increasing the tension between the two firms.
Eelo plans to use only open-source elements of Android and would join a growing number of OS alternatives. “There is a market for non-Google devices, but it’s small,” said Llamas. “Pure Linux is a great example, appealing mostly to developers and other technology cognoscenti, but there are several other smaller ones coming out for smartphones and smartwatches.”
In China, state-banned Google has a relatively small footprint, but that doesn’t mean there’s no Android – companies build devices running non-Google versions, a trend that is spreading. “China is where most of this development is taking place, but it is moving towards India, Middle East and other regions,” said Llamas.
Missing manufacturers
The question for a new OS is where it will find an outlet – will it be able to persuade handset manufacturers to install it on their hardware?
That’s the hardest issue facing eelo, analysts suggest. “Handset manufacturers are very entrenched with their current platform strategy, and adding another one would take up cost and resources,” said Llamas.
A forked version of Android could actually be positive for Google, as it would be evidence of consumer choice
“Then there’s building a distribution network, as carriers and retailers are very close to those they carry now.”
Duval claims that, if mainstream brands won’t get on board, then eelo would partner with an OEM. “If we became big enough, we could start to work with a manufacturer to make a smartphone that could be pre-loaded with eelo. It could be an idea for a crowdfunding campaign,” said Duval, adding that the project already has 2,000 financial backers.
Another issue that undid past rivals was the lack of a strong developer community and apps. “I wanted eelo to be compatible with Android for this reason: users are using apps,” Duval said. “Any Android application can be installed on eelo, and we’ll have an eelo store with most common free Android applications and open-source Android applications.”
For security reasons, eelo will provide only pristine unmodified applications, and is adding routines to detect scams and privacy issues.