The European regulators on Thursday announced formal antitrust charges against Google, accusing the tech giant of using its popular Android mobile operating system to push its own services over those of its rivals. The Commission said Google’s requirement that device manufacturers to pre-install Google services such as Search and its Chrome web browser was hampering competitions. For while Android is open source software that gives device makers the freedom to build and run their own software, the vast majority of European phones run a standard package of software and Google apps that must be licensed from Google, according to data, a technology market research firm.
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In the Consumer Watchdog press release John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director comments: “Google engages in exactly the same anti-competitive, unfair and abusive practices in the United States”.
Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for competition, says she is concerned that Google is forcing phonemakers and operators to enter contracts that preload Google apps onto smartphones. There may be a lot of search engines, browsers and other services which are brilliant but are rotting away just because they can not compete with Google’s services on an even scale.
The fact that Google’s search results were skewed didn’t escape the EU’s attention.
“While Android is free for manufacturers to use, it’s costly to develop, improve, keep secure, and defend against patent suits”, said Google’s Walker.
“Google requires manufacturers using key apps on Android, such as Google Play or YouTube, to also install others that it specifies”.
Samsung users will know that there’s a lot of apps that clutter up their phones, which will never, ever be used, and so too with Google’s pre-loaded offerings.
The bright side for Google is that consumers have pretty consistently chosen its search engine and browser anyway. In Europe, the tech giant is once again facing serious charges, this time surrounding the Android mobile operating system.
He has also argued that the company faces more competition than ever, and that Google actually sends a huge number of people to its competitors.
The company is also pointing to manufacturers and operators preloading whatever apps they like alongside Google services on their devices; and the ease with which the owners of those devices can “download apps on their own – including apps that directly compete with ours”.
For the European Union, Google is basically strong-arming its way into manufacturer’s devices, either by giving them monetary incentives for bundling and makings its Google Search and apps the default or by making it near impossible, or at least extremely disadvantageous, not to do so.
This will be the EC’s second antitrust case against Google assuming charges are filed.
Google was reported on holding more than 90 percent of the market of the market for general Internet searches on Android.
While Vestager complains about Android’s “restrictive licensing practices”, Google’s Walker emphasized that the company’s agreements allow its partners to use and modify the software at will.
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Google has flatly denied the charges, with its attorneys saying they are ready to resolve any issues with the European Union competition watchdog.
