Made-in-Vietnam Bphone Fails to Obtain Google’s Certification

The Bphone B86, a smartphone made in Vietnam, has recently failed to obtain Google’s security certification – Play Protect. It has been discovered by users that the device is not certified according to the Settings menu of the Play Store on B86 devices.

Uncertified devices, as stated on Google’s website, are considered insecure and may have difficulties in updating the Android operating system and certain applications. Additionally, Google’s applications installed on uncertified devices may not be authentic, implying that they may have been illegally installed.

While Android is a free-of-charge open-source software, mobile phone manufacturers are required to pay Google in order to use closed-source applications such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps on their devices.

The failure to obtain Play Protect certification, coupled with BKAV’s loss of its Android partnership, has raised concerns, particularly since Android’s partners in Vietnam include Vsmart, FPT, as well as smaller brands like Mobiistar and Masstel.

BKAV, in an official statement, has clarified that the lack of certification is not due to any technical deficiencies in its devices, but rather a result of Google’s sales policy. In 2015, when Bphone 1 was introduced, BKAV signed a GMS license with Google, granting permission to use services like Gmail, CH Play, and YouTube. However, Google unilaterally changed its policy, stipulating that the agreement would only be extended if BKAV’s sales exceeded one million devices per year, a milestone that the company has not yet reached. Consequently, the agreement (and related certifications) was not made available for the Bphone devices.

To resolve this issue, Google advised BKAV to sign a new agreement with another Google manufacturing partner, where BKAV would have to purchase devices and related technology from the partner, who would then produce the actual devices on behalf of BKAV. However, BKAV declined this proposal as they intended to master the core technology and produce the devices in Vietnam themselves.

Although BKAV has been working towards achieving their one million sales target, they have signed an agreement with another Google partner authorized to verify Android compatibility, GMS, and security updates. This partner will provide the necessary certificates for Bphone devices.

BKAV stated, “Bphone meets all production requirements set for other manufacturers. The only difference is that instead of obtaining direct approval from Google, Bphone has been approved by one of Google’s authorized partners.”