Judge gives Google one week to fix "anticompetitive" app store download in Google Play
Third-party app stores are about to become more visible in Google Play.
Third-party app stores are about to become more visible in Google Play.
The short version
- Google began offering third-party app store downloads in the Play Store earlier this week, but US District Judge James Donato says the company isn’t doing enough.
- After reviewing the process for accessing the first non-Google store, Donato ruled that Google has added unnecessary “anticompetitive friction,” ordering the company to rectify the issues.
- However, Google worked hard to avoid this outcome , attempting to settle with Epic to keep third-party app stores out.
What happened
When it was forced to admit the Aptoide store under the terms of the ruling, Google didn’t exactly put up a banner welcoming third-party app stores. In fact, Judge Donato found in a Thursday hearing that Google’s implementation was not good enough, according to The Verge .
Why it matters
While there is a link to the Play Store’s alternative app store page, it’s buried several levels deep in its confusing menus.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.