Developers Want To Cut Google Out Of Android

Privacy and regulation fears spur an Android reboot–but can it succeed without Google?

PRIVACY AND COMPETITION concerns could lead to a new strain of Android that cuts Google out of its own OS.

Growing concerns over data collection and a perceived lack of choice provides an opportunity for a mobile platform that isn’t controlled by a major tech giant, according to the head of Project eelo, a rival Android-based platform.

Project eelo would be an Android fork that eliminates all Google services and data collection. There are plans to launch a test version and unveil its open-source repository to a wider team of developers in August, with backers receiving pre-loaded handsets in October.

“There are growing issues and concerns over user’s data privacy and these are becoming geopolitical issues,” Gaël Duval, eelo founder, told PC Pro. “You should be able to use a phone without giving away your data and I wanted to free myself from the smartphone duopoly and regain control over my data privacy.”

Coming off the back of the Facebook scandal and increased scrutiny of the way tech giants collect data, eelo could hardly be better timed. Yet, analysts still question whether enough people care about privacy to change their handset OS.

“A privacy-conscious third platform would have limited appeal to the public, since the smartphone market is so far ahead with Android and Apple,” said Ramon Llamas, research director for mobile devices market watcher IDC.