When users discovered that the iPhone had a “kill switch” allowing Steve Jobs and company to remotely kill malignant iPhone apps if they violated the terms of service, consumers worked themselves into a frenzy over Apple’s iron grip on the device. Now, despite a more open approach to applications, the same type of switch has turned up in T-Mobile’s Android-based G1.
The terms of service in Google’s Android Market give the company’s power away, warning sellers: “Google may discover a product that violates the developer distribution agreement … in such an instance, Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your device at its sole discretion.”
As with Apple, Google’s stated reason for its Big Brother capabilities lies, purportedly, in protecting users. Should a malicious application slip into the store and hijack users’ phones, Google can send out a signal killing the app on every single G1, disabling the app and protecting users.
In the event it actually ends up killing an app that users have paid for, Google also pledges to make an effort to reclaim money from the developer and refund it to users.
Since Google will not prescreen applications sold through its Android Marketplace, the potential for a bad seed to slip in remains much greater than with Apple’s carefully guarded iPhone.
