Google: No More Android Phones for China

At least for now, Google has put two Android smartphones - Motorola and Samsung - on hold until its political scuffle with the Chinese government is resolved. All currently available Android phones remain on shelves though.

Last week, Google threatened to pull its company completely out of China if censorship is not lifted. The search engine company made the declaration after revealing that its database had been attacked and breached by hackers, who stole some valuable information.

Google’s suspension of Android phone sales is logical given its potential Chinese exit, but manufacturers cannot possibly be happy about this tough decision. China’s phone subscribers are estimated at over half a billion, with most of them using simple cell phones. However, China Daily notes that smartphone sales grew around 30% in 2009 and are expected to account for 40% of the entire cell phone market by 2012. Motorola and Samsung certainly desire to be part of this lucrative venture, but Google’s open source formula clashes ideologically with China’s dictatorial governing.

It will be interesting to see how this whole saga pans out. Money has usually won over ideology in the past. Even if Google decides to yank its sagging business from China, surely, manufacturers will not gladly follow suit. Google cannot legally control what carriers and manufacturers do with their Android phones, but it can withdraw support of Google apps like Google Earth. What is so special about an Android device that lacks Google apps?