Comprehensive Guide to Google GMS Certification: What is GMS Certification and How to Obtain It

As we all know, Android is an operating system (OS) provided by Google under an open-source license. While it primarily focuses on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, it also appears on other platforms like televisions (Android TV), cars (Android Auto), and watches (Android Wear).

Android is the world's most widely used mobile operating system, with device sales surpassing those of other OS-based electronics. Its popularity is attributed to its open-source nature, regular update schedule, OS optimization, and ongoing development support.

Google is the current owner of the "Android" brand, along with many applications and services that run on Android OS devices. These proprietary Google apps and services—such as YouTube, Gmail, Google Play Store, Google Maps, Google Photos, etc.—are known as Google Mobile Services (GMS).

Most Android OS users expect these essential GMS apps to be available out of the box (OOTB), pre-installed on their devices, or accessible via over-the-air (OTA) downloads from the Play Store through Wi-Fi or mobile data, ensuring smooth, seamless functionality. This expectation is a crucial consideration when planning and developing new Android-based devices.

Google has set several requirements for device manufacturers, known as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), who wish to sell devices with GMS pre-installed. To ensure these requirements are met, Google has established a licensing process for manufacturers and requires certification for products to be sold.

Thus, OEMs can sell devices running the Android OS in two ways:

1. As mentioned, Android is an open-source OS, so its commercialization can be independent of GMS, meaning certification is not mandatory.

2. If an OEM wants to include all proprietary Google apps and/or services that define the Google experience on their devices, they must obtain Google certification.

For OEMs who wish to sell Android OS-based devices with all Google apps, it's important to remember that these devices must go through various testing and compatibility processes designed by Google to achieve certification.

GMS License and GMS Certification

A GMS license, also known as the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA), is a license that Google grants to OEMs, allowing them to use GMS apps and services on their manufactured devices. It is a prerequisite for obtaining GMS certification—manufacturers must either have a GMS license or be associated with a licensed organization. The GMS license is non-transferable and non-exclusive.

GMS certification confirms that a specific device meets Google’s performance requirements, runs Google apps correctly, and can be marketed with the GMS app and service suite. In simple terms, the GMS license applies to the brand or manufacturer, while certification applies to the device itself.

1. Applying for a GMS License

To apply for a GMS license, an application form must be filled out on the website. This request must be made before the desired product launch date, as Google may take a considerable amount of time to respond. Once all the information is submitted, Google will review the request, company, and product. Upon approval, Google will provide the MADA, or GMS license.

    2.Applying for GMS Certification

The process of applying for and obtaining GMS certification involves several steps that directly impact the device under development. It is important to consider the certification process early in product development, as failing to account for the time required for certification may result in production delays and significant losses.

The various steps in the GMS certification process are described in more detail below:

    3. Initial Cycle

Typically, product design starts with the conceptualization or proof-of-concept phase. At this initial stage, hardware components of the product are defined, such as the type of LCD to be used, the quality and number of cameras, and product design and finishing (whether hard plastic or metal, for example). This cycle may be repeated several times, undergoing multiple improvements until the desired quality is reached, and the design is finalized.

Once the hardware components of the device are approved, considerations such as which OS to use, production timing, and issues related to product marketing and testing (hardware and software) must be addressed. At this stage, product features, mechanical designs, GMS certification budgets, and other factors should be considered to avoid unforeseen issues later. GMS certification is not a feature to leave for the final stages of product design, as issues in the certification process can result in costs of around $800 to $1,000 for each submission attempt.

   4.GMS Pre-Check Cycle

This cycle is directly related to the development of the software that will be used in the device. To achieve GMS certification, the device must meet all requirements outlined in the Compatibility Definition Document (CDD). This document lists the criteria that must be satisfied for the device to be compatible with the latest version of Android. The CDD serves as the "policy" for Android compatibility.

The Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which provides the source code and information needed to create new products using Android as the operating system, is the reference and preferred implementation for Android. Developers are encouraged to base their implementations on upstream source code whenever possible.

The CDD is divided into 13 sections covering recommendations on device types, software, multimedia compatibility, security, etc. By following these recommendations, developers can ensure their product is compatible with the Android platform, qualifying it for GMS certification.

   5.Development Cycle

The GMS pre-check and development cycles often complement each other and may even start in parallel. The development cycle focuses on the software implementation of the device. During this phase, the Android source code is downloaded from AOSP and modified by the OEM based on the recommendations in the CDD.

These modifications can range widely, from changes to the UI (user interface) to the implementation of new features and applications added to the OS. Once all modifications are completed, a binary file is generated that will be used to "flash" the devices to be manufactured. It’s important to note that simply downloading the binary file and trying to use it on any device won’t work. Each binary is unique and contains drivers specific to that model’s components. AOSP's OS comes with Google's standard drivers, which can be used in their Pixel models. For other models, it’s necessary to integrate all the drivers for that specific model.

  6.Testing Cycle

When the product is ready and the Android OS is installed, a set of pre-defined tests by Google must be run. These tests verify the device’s security, performance, and compatibility with the Android OS and Google Apps. These tests are based on Tradefed (Trade Federation), an Android continuous testing framework designed to run tests on devices running the Android OS.

Some of the key tests involved in GMS certification include:

• VTS (Vendor Test Suite): VTS consists of frameworks and test cases to help improve Android systems (like HALs and libraries) and low-level system software (like kernels, modules, and firmware). VTS includes both automated and structured test sets, and is directly related to Google's Project Treble.

• CTS (Compatibility Test Suite): CTS is a free, commercial-grade test suite that runs on desktop machines and executes test cases directly on connected devices. It’s designed to reveal incompatibilities early in development, ensuring software remains compatible throughout development.

• CTS Verifier:An additional component of CTS that tests features like audio quality and accelerometers that cannot be tested without manual input.

• GTS (GMS Test Suite):GTS is Google's proprietary test suite that validates the compatibility of Google Apps with Android devices. It checks if GMS apps are integrated correctly and performs various security-related tests.

• STS (Security Test Suite): Google requires security tests to ensure that devices are protected. STS helps OEMs verify that vulnerabilities have been fixed and that security updates are applied correctly.

   7. Approval Cycle

Once a device is GMS certified, it is registered with Google. The certification can be seen in the Google Play Store under "Play Protect certification." To maintain GMS certification, OEMs must comply with MADA rules and provide software maintenance releases (MR) for updates. For security updates, the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) ensures the OS remains as up-to-date and secure as possible.

 8. Product Launch

After a device is GMS certified, it receives Google's approval to release all Google apps and services in the market.

Conclusion 

1. The article explains the process that Android device manufacturers must follow when they want their products to include Google apps and services. It's not a simple process, as it may require multiple iterations.

2. Testing can take 3 to 20 hours, not including the countless repetitions required to achieve a zero-failure target.

3. Google has stricter policies against non-certified devices, aiming to disable GMS apps and services (such as the Play Store, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, etc.) on all uncertified devices.

The certification ensures several benefits for devices, such as:

1. Availability of OTA software updates;

2. Full compatibility with Google OS and apps;

3. App stability;

4. Latest app updates;

5. Verified security;

6. Access to a large number of Google apps on the Play Store.

Feel free to contact us for inquiries about Google GMS certification. We can also handle certifications for Google EDLA, Google MADA, Google Auto, Google Lens, Google ARCore, Google TADA, Google Android Watch, Google Android TV, GTV, Google Fast Pair certification and Spatial Audio certification testing for earphone,and other related projects.