What is GMS (Google Mobile Services) and what does it contain?
Some Android devices include GMS, others have an Android operating system without GMS. What is the difference between them?
Google Mobile Services is a suite of Google apps that are required to include devices with the GMS version of the Android operating system. These apps are:
- Google Search
- Google Chrome
- YouTube
- Google Play Store
- Google Drive
- Gmail
- Google Duo
- Google Maps
- Google Photos
- Google Play Music
A user of a GMS device can create a free account with GoogleTM, which then allows the user to, for example, remotely manage the device, back up the configuration, etc.
Many mobile device users often confuse the terms GMS (Google Mobile Services) and GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation, sometimes even with the abbreviation GSM.
GSM means that the device can be used to make phone calls and has nothing to do with Google Mobile Services.
Regarding the navigation capabilities of the device, it should be clarified that the navigation system is related to GMS only secondarily, through the Google Maps application. Even a device that does not have the Android GMS operating system often has a built-in GPS navigation module. Even with an Android device without GMS, it is possible to use the navigation system, but to use it to its full potential, allHowever, for full use, either the Google Maps app needs to be installed manually (free for non-commercial use) or one of the many third-party navigation apps.
GMS also includes an API for integrating other Google services that can use third-party apps:
- Google+ - API for the now defunct social network
- Google Account Login - API for working with Google user account identity
- Google Actions, Base Client Library - Basic library for working with GMS
- Google Sign In - Api for signing in/authenticating with a Google user account
- Google Analytics - Api for marketing analysis of application usage
- Google Awareness - Api combining data about location, time, wifi connection, bluetooth devices, etc. so that the system can perform some actions based on this information.
- Google Cast - Api for Google Chromecast/Googe Home devices
- Google Cloud Messaging - Push messages and message passing between apps and servers (Firebase)
- Google Drive - Api for working with Drive storage
- Google Fit - Api for working with the Fit cloud service
- Google Location and Activity Recognition - Api for advanced location determination, e.g. based on Wifi connection
- Google Mobile Ads - Api for displaying ads for mobile devices in apps
- Mobile Vision - Api for recognizing faces and places in photos and videos
- Google Nearby - Api for easy communication of nearby devices (Wifi,Bluetooth,NFC,IP Audio, etc.)
- Google Panorama Viewer - Api for displaying panoramic photos and integration with StreetView
- Google Play Game services - Api for game support (game data storage, player profiles, etc. )
- SafetyNet - Api for detecting if a device is secure, library for URI security, etc.
- Google Pay - Google's payment system
- Wear OS by Google - Collaboration with wearable electronics
