EkaLore has released previous looks at the Indian telecommunications markets and the possible routes to global competition from Indian domestic markets. This release looks at external technology provided by Google in conflict with Indian governmental desires.
Google has had an ongoing conflict with the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The role of protective tariffs and the telecommunications market segment has been covered in previous EkaLore Dynamic India posts. The CCI has complained to the courts about Google using its position with the Android Operating System and Google Apps Store, and Google Apps.
For Google, the conflict with CCI echoes pushback against the ubiquitous nature of these products in many global markets. Google and its partners hold a 97% market share for smartphone operating systems, with key telecommunications providers proudly pushing Google Apps and solutions throughout their product and service offerings. Even in markets like China, where restrictions on Google Android OS used by Huawei have stunted smartphone unit growth in global sales, Google has major control of mindshare and units.
The ongoing conflict with CCI is an assertion of concerns that Google isn’t “Indian Enough” to satisfy being allowed into partnerships (and assuming the role of a generous foreign direct investor) into the Indian domestic market. Success in compelling Apple to assign Foxconn to create “Make in India” factories and avoid further tariffs on iPhones and devices has focused the government (via CCI) to contest the level of Google’s effective control in the Indian domestic market.
The outcome of Google’s fight with CCI is to be watched as an indicator of whether or not even a large foreign direct investor and direct market participant can be tolerated as “Indian Enough” in a Dynamic India.
We’ll be premiering a new set of posts about India’s quest to create its own mobile operating system. You’ll find those posts at www.ekalore.com/india-business
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