Report: Acer Nukes Smartphone Launch Due to Google Threat

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Google supposedly threatened to cut off Android support to Acer if the handset maker launches a phone with a rival mobile OS.

Taiwan-based Acer was reportedly forced to cancel (or postpone) the launch of its new CloudMobile A800 smartphone on Thursday due to intense pressure from Google Inc.

According to Reuters, the phone was a joint venture between Acer and Alibaba Cloud Computing, deemed as the first to use the latter company's new mobile operating system, Aliyun. Acer and Alibaba originally planned to launch the device in Shanghai on Thursday afternoon, and then go into full retail mode on Friday.

Like clockwork, members of the press showed up for Acer's planned conference to cover the launch. However they were quickly denied access to the venue, and were later told by an Alibaba Cloud Computing official that the launch had been canceled due to "internal reasons."

Eventually the company released an official statement, blaming Google for applying pressure on Acer. "Our partner received notification from Google that if the new product launch with Aliyun went ahead, Google would terminate Android product cooperation and related technical authorization with Acer," Alibaba Cloud Computing said in a statement.

China is reportedly becoming the world's largest smartphone market in 2012, with Google's Android serving as the dominant mobile operating system. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the parent company of Alibaba Cloud Computing and China's biggest Internet company by transactions, is looking to expand its presence in China by working with more handset makers.

So far Google has declined to comment, but Acer said that it will "continue to communicate with Google and the company still wants to launch the new smartphone based on Alibaba software," according to an official at Acer who declined to be named.

While Google's stance with Acer may seem a little harsh, there may be an issue with the Aliyun software itself that the search engine giant may need to address before giving Acer the greenlight -- such as possible patent infringements.

Still, this sounds like a Dr. Evil moment, no?

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Kevin Parrish
33 Comments Comment from the forums
  • deadlockedworld
    I'm pretty sure Intel lost some big lawsuits for exactly this.
    Reply
  • johnners2981
    Meh, as long as it wasn't apple I don't need my pitchfork
    Reply
  • -Fran-
    If that OS is an Android rip off, what did you expect?

    Cheers!
    Reply
  • blazorthon
    What an interesting situation. Is Google's threat fair?
    Reply
  • boiler1990
    Isn't this the definition of stifling competition?
    Reply
  • metallifux
    Android is open source so i'm thinking this is BS
    Reply
  • jimmyjohnz
    metallifuxAndroid is open source so i'm thinking this is BS
    I'm pretty sure Google has teams that go and work with other companies to build android for different devices though. It sounds like they're threatening to cut off support to Acer in this way, not deny them access to Android itself.
    Reply
  • teh_chem
    Pretty mean. The story implies back-door pressure from Google, but I wonder if there is wording in the actual business agreements between Acer and Google that essentially prevents them from making another phone while still collaborating with and making Android devices.

    But let's face it--Acer's hardware sucks. Intervention of Google aside, it probably would have sucked regardless.

    Reply
  • samwelaye
    Alibaba is saying Google told Acer not to do it. Acer has not officially said it and neither has Google, so for all we know there is more behind this.
    Reply
  • internetlad
    I saw the word "Nuke(s)" in the title and immediately knew who wrote this and the quality of the article.
    Reply