Google is implementing some Android changes in India under pressure from the government

Google has decided to make some changes to Android after a lost case at the Indian Supreme Court. For example, it will be possible to use a system other than Google Play’s payment system for in-app purchases and a search engine selection screen will be introduced.

Google writes that the option for users to choose a different payment system will be available for all apps and games starting next month. This means that developers can present options other than Google Play’s system to users if they want to make a purchase of digital content in an app.

In addition, an important change is that Indian users will have the option to choose their preferred default search engine. For example, European users are already presented with this option. A selection screen for this, which appears when installing a new smartphone or tablet, will become available ‘soon’.

Manufacturers will also have the option to license individual Google apps so that they can pre-install them on their devices. Google is also making an adjustment to Android compatibility requirements to allow partners to build non-compatible variants and forks.

The American company writes that these changes, which are being implemented partly on the basis of instructions from the Competition Commission of India, mean that ‘significant changes’ must be made in India. According to Google, this is complex and requires a lot of work, including for partners, manufacturers and developers.

Google says it will appeal certain aspects of the regulator’s decisions. It is not clear what specific points Google opposes. Perhaps that concerns the requirement that users must be able to remove bundled apps; Google says nothing about that point.

These amendments follow the lost case in the Supreme Court of India. As a result, Google can no longer oblige manufacturers to supply apps if they want to install the Play Store on phones. This ruling does not mean the end of this case, although Google must comply with it until a lower court rules on Google’s objection at the end of March.