Uncertified phones should lose access to the Play Store

Now, those who have cell phones without company certification will have one more difficulty. Google has started blocking access to Google Play for such devices. The veto is valid for Google Apps, the company's package that includes Gmail, Maps and even the official Android store.

The block is part of a more selective policy of the company with device manufacturers that do not follow the standards of software development. The novelty will mainly affect devices from unknown brands, clones and also pirated models.

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• Android's history

Android is an open source system, yet Google has always required compliance with development standards for devices that run the software. With each new version of the system released by a manufacturer, the company requests that compatibility tests be carried out to allow access to Google Apps. In this way, companies such as Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony and Xiaomi end up submitting their products for certification.

However, control over the licensing process was less restricted. Thus, even without Google certification, cell phones and tablets that did not have a well-known origin had free access to Google Play. Google's move is in line with growing concern about the security of Android, which is a recurring target for vulnerabilities.

An industry source, according to XDA Developers, said Google's strictest policy with smartphone makers dates back to last year. The company had already warned in advance about the new measures.

The automatic blocking of all uncertified devices would have started on March 16. Blocked cell phones now show a full-screen alert communicating the restriction.