Originally Posted by
crucial bbq As we have gone back and forth on this for a few months now, I am still not convinced that BlackBerry joined the OHA let alone the OHA even being a thing anymore. Andy Rubin left Android in 2013 and incidentally that is pretty much when Google stopped aggressively enforcing "rules" and is pretty much when we stopped hearing about the OHA outside stuff like this thread also. That article that thurask published is from 2013. The OHA members list has not been updated since what, 2011? The official OHA webpage has not been updated since 2011. The whole point of the OHA in the first place was to go after and CRUSH Apple and RIM. Android now has 8X% of the world market under its control, kinda makes the whole thing pointless these days, no?
Andy Rubin left because he knew that Google lost control of Android with all of the fragmentation that was going on.
What is real is Google Compatibility. Some say that the entire OHA was nothing more than Google to begin with. A vendor can do what they want with Android but if they want the Play Store then they got to play by Google's rules.
Now if we want to go back in time to the Acer case, Google's official stance was that members could not build non-Android compatible handsets but could participate in competing ecosystems. BB10 is a competing ecosystem, so BlackBerry is cool there. The real question comes down to if ART on BB10 would, or could, qualify as Android compatible?
And for anyone who thinks that Google is not aware of any of us "illegally" installing Play onto our BB10s, I got a bridge to sell you.
There is Android Compatibility, which is a different discussion altogether, and then there is Google Compatibility. Google Compatibility came (or still does?) in two parts:
1. In exchange for the Play Store app and G Services, the vendor must also prominently place GApps on the home screen. GApps in and of themselves are not Android, and as we all know are just means to further allow Google to collect your data.
2. The vendor cannot impede in any way, shape, or form, Google's ability to collect data (hence, compatibility).
However, in more recent times, Google has been looking to get Play onto as many devices as possible--but not necessarily on all Android devices. For example, Google is looking to put Play into automobile infotainment systems, television sets, smart watches, and so on; not all of which would be running Android or a form of Android. Google has been increasing the viability of Android apps on Chrome and the whole point of the Chrome/Android merger, if it comes to fruition, is to further expand Play's reach, not Android's. In fact, the dude who heads up Chrome, and now Android as well, believes Android itself to be an outdated concept.
Anyways, my point is this: Google is now transitioning to move Play onto as many devices as possible, but not necessarily Android.
Now, let's back up a minute: at the end of 2014 we learned that BlackBerry was going to work with Samsung on Knox. Then later in 2015 we learned that BlackBerry was going to work with Google on Android for Work. Somewhere in-between was MWC. Then we get the Priv and wala--it has Samsung's curved screen and Google's Play Store. My speculation is that BlackBerry was going with Android with or without Google/Play, yet it would have likely been an embarrassment for Google if BlackBerry were to release the Priv sans GApps and Play. Google used BlackBerry to help establish AfW as a viable option. Google is allowing BlackBerry to prove that an Android device can be secured beyond what we have seen up to this point. In exchange, Google allows BlackBerry Play without need to join the OHA. They are simply scratching each other's backs.
And for what it is worth; ZTE and Xioami ship Android handsets sans Play/Google and ZTE is a known member. But perhaps there is an exception for some Asian markets?
The Nook HD also got the Play Store. As far as I know Barnes and Noble are not OHA members.
And then there is the BlackPhone 2. Members? Don't think so.