Google: We're not making Android hardware

news.cnet.com

The article claims that Google is using some form of "volume licensing" with Android. But how can volume licensing be enforceable when the project is Apache/GPL? Is this an error or is there something I'm not aware of?

The base OS, libraries, and functionality is GPL, but Google's apps (gmail, maps, youtube, gtalk) are not, as was made clear with the the alternative android install that included a copy of these apps.

Also, I suspect there is some kind of revenue sharing agrement with the use of these apps, so carriers that provide the google branded apps get a cut of related search revenue. This could help keep licensees in line and discourage things like forks or going it on their own with the pure GPL version.

Submitted because I want to apologize for suggesting, a week or so ago, that Google was crazy to be doing something that, it turns out, they aren't actually doing!

How not-crazy of them...

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