Facebook is testing if it can do without Google on Android

It appears Facebook is testing out whether it can function without Google should things fall out. According to new reports, the company has been preparing and testing out contingency measures to check if its app can function on Android without needing to go through Google's app store.

Sources familiar to the matter told The Information about the plan. The goal is to prepare in case Facebook and Google run into an irreconcilable conflict. Google manages the Android mobile operating system thus conflicts in the future may affect the use of the Facebook app on Android. Facebook also wants to prepare in case there will be changes in rules over how apps can work on the mentioned operating system. Facebook purposely forced its Android app to crash to check out the level of engagement and usage of people on it. The company wants to reduce its reliance not just on the Play Store but also on Google in general and built-in Android features.

Facebook forced its app to crash on Android through developed in-app artificial errors. The problem persisted for weeks. This allowed the company to see the extent in which users will try to access the app. What happened next? Facebook supposedly found out that users kept on trying to access the app. In cases where users cannot load the program, they apparently settle for the mobile web version.

Facebook also offered users to download the app from the website instead of the Play Store. In some parts of the globe, Facebook chose to take down the app from the Play Store. The company then instead shared a downloadable link.

According to 9to5Google, this is not essentially to test how independent the company could be. Rather, Facebook did not want to rely predominantly on Google especially when it comes to succeeding on Android. Just like any company, Facebook refuses to crash and burn immediately if it falls out with Google. Contingency measures in place are only inevitable.