Most Android phones have Google apps pre-installed. But this exec says it's still a choice.
Google vice president Paul Gennai has rejected suggestions that the Play Store operator controls the Android ecosystem.
Australian Google executive Paul Gennai has rejected assertions by lawyers for Epic Games that the US tech giant controls the Android ecosystem.
Gennai is the first of three Google vice presidents expected to give evidence in the Federal Court in Melbourne, where Epic is suing Apple and Google, alleging the companies have engaged in restrictive trading practices and misused their market power via their respective app stores.
While most Android phone makers including LG, Oppo and Samsung pre-install Google Apps including Play Store in devices distributed outside of China, Gennai told the court on Monday that didn't matter as the companies chose to do so.
Epic's barrister Garry Rich SC said "the reality is [Android phone makers] only ever make one choice".
