Tech Brief: Google to Allow Android Users Choose Their Preferred Browser and Search Engine Apps in the E.U.

Following a hefty US$ 5 billion fine in the European Union last year for violating antitrust laws by illegally bundling Chrome and Search apps to Android, Google, taking a leaf out of Microsoft's Browser Ballot playbook, has announced another product tweak, saying it will start "asking users of existing and new Android devices in Europe which browser and search apps they would like to use." The latest move comes five months after Google laid out a new licensing model for Android in Europe, splitting up Chrome, Google Search, and Android, in addition to allowing handset manufacturers build smartphones and tablets running a forked version of Android while also selling devices with the Play Store pre-installed in return for a licensing fee to bundle the Google apps, including Chrome and Search.

Update on Apr. 18: In a fresh blog post, Google says it's planning to roll out new browser and search engine options screen for Android users in Europe in the coming weeks, listing a total of five apps along with links to downloading them from Google Play. But FairSearch, which filed the antirust complaint, isn't too happy with the changes: "The Google choice screen for Android does nothing to correct the central problem that Google apps will remain the default on all Android devices." After all, how many would go to extent of downloading a redundant search engine app when you know the default Google app is lot more popular and powerful?