Can anyone give me a clear definition of GMS?

[wakawaka89]

So as many of you know ive been shipping the P40 Pro now for quite a while and on a previous post even talked about getting a Matepad Pro- which i did and its amazing!!

Now all i am thinking is what really is GMS? I always just assumed it was the play store and those other things that you see in settings such as google books, google music and Gmail. I have tried googling it but the answer always seems a bit to complex. I always thought i was a techy but now im second guessing myself!

Can someone give me a dumbed down version!!

 

[joeldf]

The quick answer: Google Mobile Services.

https://www.android.com/gms/

 

[wakawaka89]

yeah still need a bit of a clearer picture, I have no idea what an API is, thanks though this is a good start! So far though this doesnt really help me understand why people think GMS is so important to have in an android device? Surely isnt a massive thing that Huawei dont work with Google from that definition?

 

[cardboard60]

Gms is like at&t
That is what the rest of the world is on.
Not cdma like Verizon

 

[xTlex]

yeah still need a bit of a clearer picture, I have no idea what an API is, thanks though this is a good start! So far though this doesnt really help me understand why people think GMS is so important to have in an android device? Surely isnt a massive thing that Huawei dont work with Google from that definition?

Not that I have the perfect grasp of it, but from what I gather is the ease of having everything kinda sync with each other. For example your G Calendar would remind you have a flight coming up and putting it on your calendar. Some people like that, I myself have huge issues with the privacy implications behind this. I am sure you have heard about stories where e.g. people chat about a particular condition they have while their phone with G Assistant is around and then suddenly they start seeing ads about medicine that could help them with their condition, and many more examples. I prefer to do some things manually and take that extra 1-5 second rather than allow access to all my info.

Edit: spelling

 

[wakawaka89]

Gms is like at&t
That is what the rest of the world is on.
Not cdma like Verizon

arent at&t and verizon netork providers? Im from the UK we dont have that im afraid

 

[wakawaka89]

Not that I have the perfect grasp of it, but from what I gather is the ease of having everything kinda sync with each other. For example your G Calendar would remind you have a flight coming up and putting it on your calendar. Some people like that, I myself have huge issues with the privacy implications behind this. I am sure you have heard about stories where e.g. people chat about a particular condition they have while their phone with G Assistant is around and then suddenly they start seeing ads about medicine that could help them with their condition, and many more examples. I prefer to do some things manually and take that extra 1-5 second rather than allow access to all my info.

Edit: spelling

I have always found it quite odd that certain things i discuss end up on my facebook, and with recently reading that facebook still knows what apps you access when you arent on it makes me very uncomfortable using the social media app.

This brings me to why some people dont really like the idea of not having google on their phone. Whats so special about GMS that makes me or anyone else want it?

 

[Mike Dee]

Gms is like at&t
That is what the rest of the world is on.
Not cdma like Verizon

That's GSM

 

[cardboard60]

GSM means Global System for Mobile communications, which is a network that supports both cellular and data. The same goes for CDMA, which means Code Division Multiple Access. US Mobile currently only operates as a GSM network.

 

[mustang7757]

GSM means Global System for Mobile communications, which is a network that supports both cellular and data. The same goes for CDMA, which means Code Division Multiple Access. US Mobile currently only operates as a GSM network.

OP mentioned GMS not GSM

 

[joeldf]

I have always found it quite odd that certain things i discuss end up on my facebook, and with recently reading that facebook still knows what apps you access when you arent on it makes me very uncomfortable using the social media app.

This brings me to why some people dont really like the idea of not having google on their phone. Whats so special about GMS that makes me or anyone else want it?

GMS is strictly a Google service. It's the backbone of all of their services as mentioned above and in the link I provided.

It is NOT required to run regular ol' stock Android. But, it's an extension of the additional services that Google provides.

Google makes the free Android OS available via AOSP (Android Open Source Project). It's the OS anyone can use and is the basis for many custom ROMs that are available like the Lineage OS line. Every android OEM uses it for their flavors and forks of the OS for their devices like Samsung, LG, Sony, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Amazon for the Fire Tablets and Fire TV devices.

Some of those OEMs sign agreements to also use Google Play Services (which includes the Google Mobile Services back-end). In order to use Google Play, you can't "fork" the OS. An OEM can customize the UI up to a point, but you can't change the underlying services. That's what Amazon does with their FireOS so they can provide their own Amazon services, and Google doesn't like that. So, Amazon isn't allowed to have any Google Services on their devices (they can be sideloaded after-the-fact, but that's another issue).

Being allowed to provide Google Play means an OEM must also provide all of, or at least access to, Google's apps - Play Store, Google Account app, Maps, Google+, Google App, Drive, all the Google goodies.

The problem is the tin-foil group that has issues with the data mining that Google does. Now, there ways to mitigate much of that, but there are also options for business users that can cut that out by paying for the services (paying for it means they don't need to make advertising money off of you, and privacy is tighter). But, it's a choice.

BTW, Facebook's data mining is a separate issue, and is why I disabled the app on my S9 and only use the browser to access it, along with the Blokada app to block the generated ads.

As to why Google in not on some Chinese made phones has to do with that privacy. Argue the politics any way you wish, but the Beijing Government does require access to information from any services that run within the country. Google won't give it to them, so Google is banned. However, a lot of the Chinese OEMs operate enough outside of China that they can have separate deals to include GMS on their phones. They just can't have it within the borders of China.

So, those phones get separate services added to work within those borders. And, of course, there are other "stores" that can be loaded to install the apps you want. They just have to comply with the Chinese Government data access requirements.

APIs are a different thing not strictly related to Google. APIs are a way for various apps to access information provided by any service. Can be Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Uber, Instagram, Snapchat, whatever. Mapping information may be in an app window that pulls from Google Maps. There's an API that allows for that. An email app may have the ability let you share something on Facebook - an API on Facebook is what allows that.

That's, admittedly, still oversimplified. But, that basically covers the... um, basics. There are, however, deeper intricacies - maybe even a lot of exceptions - to all of the above.

 

[cardboard60]

OP mentioned GMS not GSM

Oh..

 

[mustang7757]

Oh..

It's cool , easy to confuse.

 

[cardboard60]

It's cool , easy to confuse.

For real.

 

[kct1975]

I have always found it quite odd that certain things i discuss end up on my facebook, and with recently reading that facebook still knows what apps you access when you arent on it makes me very uncomfortable using the social media app.

This brings me to why some people dont really like the idea of not having google on their phone. Whats so special about GMS that makes me or anyone else want it?

And this is is one of the Main Reasons that I have REFUSED to sign up for Facebook!

While I use Google and I know that they collect my information , which at times I am uncomfortable with, at least Google generally only uses the information for their own products and services, and mostly uses my information to sell me stuff.

With Facebook, however, they have such a bad record of keeping user's information private, there is no way I want my personal information on Facebook. As I always half jokingly say..."I don't need some person several states away knowing the places I have gone or the things I like or don't like."

I guess that my main hangup is that while it probably isn't good to have companies know so much about me, the information they collect about me will be used to suggest products and services. Conversely, individuals knowing information about me could be used against me either socially or physically, neither of which is something I want to deal with.

{sorry for my rambling rant...I am just tired of people thinking I am weird for not having a Facebook or Instagram or Twitter account}

KCT1975 Out

 

[cardboard60]

I delete Google activity regularly..
And delete history every few days .
Have to sign back in to everything.

 

[wakawaka89]

That's GSM

that makes more sense, i think hes misread it and thought i was thinking network mode

 

[wakawaka89]

And this is is one of the Main Reasons that I have REFUSED to sign up for Facebook!

While I use Google and I know that they collect my information , which at times I am uncomfortable with, at least Google generally only uses the information for their own products and services, and mostly uses my information to sell me stuff.

With Facebook, however, they have such a bad record of keeping user's information private, there is no way I want my personal information on Facebook. As I always half jokingly say..."I don't need some person several states away knowing the places I have gone or the things I like or don't like."

I guess that my main hangup is that while it probably isn't good to have companies know so much about me, the information they collect about me will be used to suggest products and services. Conversely, individuals knowing information about me could be used against me either socially or physically, neither of which is something I want to deal with.

{sorry for my rambling rant...I am just tired of people thinking I am weird for not having a Facebook or Instagram or Twitter account}

KCT1975 Out

I dont think your weird!! Its your perogative, tbh im glad i posted this post as i never knew about the blokada app! Id never heard of it, i only use social media because i like the idea of connecting with people but i get its not for everyone!!

 

[wakawaka89]

GMS is strictly a Google service. It's the backbone of all of their services as mentioned above and in the link I provided.

It is NOT required to run regular ol' stock Android. But, it's an extension of the additional services that Google provides.

Google makes the free Android OS available via AOSP (Android Open Source Project). It's the OS anyone can use and is the basis for many custom ROMs that are available like the Lineage OS line. Every android OEM uses it for their flavors and forks of the OS for their devices like Samsung, LG, Sony, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Amazon for the Fire Tablets and Fire TV devices.

Some of those OEMs sign agreements to also use Google Play Services (which includes the Google Mobile Services back-end). In order to use Google Play, you can't "fork" the OS. An OEM can customize the UI up to a point, but you can't change the underlying services. That's what Amazon does with their FireOS so they can provide their own Amazon services, and Google doesn't like that. So, Amazon isn't allowed to have any Google Services on their devices (they can be sideloaded after-the-fact, but that's another issue).

Being allowed to provide Google Play means an OEM must also provide all of, or at least access to, Google's apps - Play Store, Google Account app, Maps, Google+, Google App, Drive, all the Google goodies.

The problem is the tin-foil group that has issues with the data mining that Google does. Now, there ways to mitigate much of that, but there are also options for business users that can cut that out by paying for the services (paying for it means they don't need to make advertising money off of you, and privacy is tighter). But, it's a choice.

BTW, Facebook's data mining is a separate issue, and is why I disabled the app on my S9 and only use the browser to access it, along with the Blokada app to block the generated ads.

As to why Google in not on some Chinese made phones has to do with that privacy. Argue the politics any way you wish, but the Beijing Government does require access to information from any services that run within the country. Google won't give it to them, so Google is banned. However, a lot of the Chinese OEMs operate enough outside of China that they can have separate deals to include GMS on their phones. They just can't have it within the borders of China.

So, those phones get separate services added to work within those borders. And, of course, there are other "stores" that can be loaded to install the apps you want. They just have to comply with the Chinese Government data access requirements.

APIs are a different thing not strictly related to Google. APIs are a way for various apps to access information provided by any service. Can be Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Uber, Instagram, Snapchat, whatever. Mapping information may be in an app window that pulls from Google Maps. There's an API that allows for that. An email app may have the ability let you share something on Facebook - an API on Facebook is what allows that.

That's, admittedly, still oversimplified. But, that basically covers the... um, basics. There are, however, deeper intricacies - maybe even a lot of exceptions - to all of the above.

can i ask would the blokada app not work with the facebook app? Do you mind me asking what browser you are using?

 

[xTlex]

I have always found it quite odd that certain things i discuss end up on my facebook, and with recently reading that facebook still knows what apps you access when you arent on it makes me very uncomfortable using the social media app.

This brings me to why some people dont really like the idea of not having google on their phone. Whats so special about GMS that makes me or anyone else want it?

Yeah, Facebook has been caught and questions many a time about their practice and Zuckerberg's answer is always something along the line "We made a mistake, we will fix it" to seem responsible. But then the dude is back in the same exact seat, saying the same word a few year ls later, and nothing ever change, they're actually gathering more data if anything.