GOOGLE’S NEW CERTIFICATION RULES CREATE UPHEAVAL IN ANDROID DEVICES MARKET
Google upsets Android market with insistence on mandatory certification for devices sold with Google apps such as Gmail, Play Store, Maps and YouTube
JANUARY 24, 2018. BLACKBURN, UK. Google’s insistence that new Android devices must be Google certified before being sold with preloaded Google apps is about to create a seismic shift in the phone and tablet markets, predicts the CEO of UK consumer electronics brand time2.
Kam Kothia, whose Blackburn-based company is launching its own Google certified tablets in the keenly priced £90-£120 bracket(1), says: “The market is currently in two tiers. In tier one are the costly big brand tablets and phones from the likes of Samsung, Google and Asus, while tier two offers hundreds of low cost and budget devices, branded and unbranded, of varying quality. At the moment, most tier two devices are not certified by Google. Now, Google is insisting that they must be certified if they are to carry core Google apps such as Gmail, Google Play Store, Google Maps and YouTube.
“So now it’s ‘no certificate, no apps’. And that has consequences.”
As well as denying onboard apps to buyers of uncertified devices, Google has some stark warnings of other potential risks with these devices. Customers could find their phones have fake and counterfeit Google apps, poor password and backup security, and they face the prospect that Android features and apps may not work correctly and may not be updated when bugs appear.(2) As Kothia says, “it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see the point of owning a device that isn’t certified.”
He continues: “So during 2018, I believe the Android device market will reconfigure itself into three tiers: the present big-brand tier one, a new middle tier two for low-to-mid-price devices bearing the Google certificate and then a race to the bottom in tier three.
“Tier two, which is small at the moment, is the one to watch. It will offer increasing excellence but without the added tier 1 price tag. Google certification provides a guarantee of the build quality, as the devices have to pass stringent tests, as well as a clearance for Google apps. It also assures long term value, as Android, the apps and security features are automatically updated and continue to work smoothly together.
“Tier three will head for junk status with many uncertified devices and suppliers chasing fewer and fewer sales, as buyers will see the value in spending a bit more in tier two. Tier three prices may initially fall but, in the long term, suppliers will either have to invest in certification, raise their prices and join tier two, or be squeezed out altogether. I believe it will ultimately see an end to today’s questionable, bottom-rung budget devices.
“Meanwhile, the big names in tier one may also be squeezed by the new tier two. This tier will see a small number of suppliers offer quality without high prices and some of them will become the new generation of high street brands. In 2018, tier two is really the one to watch and the place where customers may benefit most.”
(1) Kam Kothia’s company time2, based in Blackburn, Lancashire, is presently launching its new range of Google certified tablets. In mid-December 2017, time2 launched its 10″ Android 7.0 tablet with 3G at a breakthrough price of £119.99 and today is announcing an 8″ sibling at just £89.99. Both tablets offer superfast quad core A7 processor, IPS HD screen, 3G and, yes, Google certification and a suite of Google apps. Details below.
(2) https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7165974?hl=en
About time2
Founded in 2011 by a small team selling just one tablet and a case, time2 now provides a wide range of connected devices for the modern day smart home, from home security cameras to affordable quality tablets.
time2 specialises in innovative technology with a genuine motivation to supply quality connected products available to everyone. It has had more than 29,000 customers over the last 12 months and 99% positive reviews: testament to the honesty, integrity and attention to customer care that underpin the business.
time2’s goal is to provide the family with products that enable them to Be Connected(™).
About time2 Google certified tablets with 3G The time2 8″ Google certified tablet with 3G is on sale from today at the onsite price of £89.99 (RRP £139.99): https://www.time2technology.com/en/time2-8-inch-android-7-0-3g-tablet-google-certified.html and on Amazon.
The time2 10″ Google certified tablet with 3G is on sale at £119.99: https://www.time2technology.com/en/tablets/10-1-inch-android-7-0-3g-quad-core-ips-tablet-gms-certified.html and also on Amazon.
Both tablets are built around superfast quad core Cortex-A7 processors, with a 10.1″ or 8″ LCD IPS screen for wider viewing angles and higher quality colour: HD tablets with better than HD 1280 x 800 displays. The operating system for both is Android 7.0 Nougat, built for improved performance, multi-tasking and a rich user experience. Both connect via wifi and dual-SIM 3G, are Google certified and arrive with those all-important Google apps and Google’s quality assurance.
Nearest competitors to time2’s 10″ tablet (£119.99): Lenovo Tab4 (£169.99) and Acer Iconia One (£179.99). Neither offers 3G. For comparison chart, click the ‘Comparison’ tab, mid-page, at https://www.time2technology.com/en/10-1-inch-android-7-0-3g-quad-core-ips-tablet-gms-certified.html
Nearest competitors to time2’s 8″ tablet (£89.99): Asus Zenpad (£119.99) and Huawei MediaPad (£139.99). Neither offers 3G. For comparison chart, click the ‘Comparison’ tab, mid-page, at https://www.time2technology.com/en/time2-8-inch-android-7-0-3g-tablet-google-certified.html
