> [Google's] strategy is growing markets, especially in india, and africa, and of course China.

Really? China? Where Google services are banned and Android phones come with local OS versions that cut them out? "High-friction sideloading" won't affect anyone in China. It won't be part of their experience at all.

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londons_explore 7 hours ago | parent [-]

I think OP is suggesting that the ability to sideload is what is preventing their phones being distributed in China.

If you can present a "locked down" phone to regulators, you might be more likely to get permission to sell large volumes of them - like iPhones in China.

	▲	pmontra 5 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		But there still won't be Google Services so what extra money is Google to make there? The markup on hardware. But they have to compete with local manufacturers with the very same OS. At least Apple is the only manufacturer selling phones with iOS.
	▲	6 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
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