Call it fantasy if you want but......
Google $5B EU fine, or 2-$4B,relaunch modest BB10 3rd platform in EU? Which is money
better spent?
Which works out better for Google? Invest (2-4B Euros), as goodwill in the relaunch of bb10/BlackBerry World/Android Appstore on 64bit phone with updated Google Android option in the sandbox, and leaving the updated bb10 stock browser to default to Bing or whatever, to satisfy the EU and perhaps win an appeal of the fine (by making the competition argument moot), or just appeal the fine and lose a cool $5B(Euros)?
With a user selectable/restrictable GooglePlay/Google search in the sandbox, they Google still stand to gain some revenue from bb10 devices, recouping some of their goodwill investment. Giving an option to satisfy the privacy concerned consumer and not concerned alike, whilst giving up default search domination. This would not be precedent setting, Microsoft burned some of their cash to ressurect the imminently bankrupt Apple all those years ago, in order to evade and satisfy the monopoly police of the day (US competition bureau, avoiding deeper anti-trust action).
It would keep the money out of government hands, and put it back into the free-market instead where it should belong. I'm thinking that ought to be enough to relaunch BB10, for the Eurozone at least, keeping a 3rd smartphone platform option open.
Are those numbers reaonable? Assuming the BB10-64 devices get sold once in the market?
I think Google ought to propose this to both BlackBerry and the EU, it may solve this and future Google OHA Cartel competition woes in the smartphone arena. Also Google might be able to recoup the $20/$40 per device sold, outside of advert revenue.
Maybe John Chen can help save Larry Page's face on this matter, and draw attention away from the apparant disordered behaviour of the creator of Android (aside: funny how the os's disorder might be reflective of it's creator (lol)). Give both these guys each other's BBM handles so they can start the conversation.
EU google fine details:
https://forums.crackberry.com/blackb...gside-android-
possible-1158015/
Hurry up Google, make the Bold move, the taxers are coming, the taxers are coming:
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-t...s-tax-in-2020/