Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Google had used practices such as making manufacturers pre-install its search engine as the default in order to preserve its market dominance.
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“Virtually every phone maker using Google Android in the European Union has bowed to Google’s demands, suppressing competition by other app makers and preventing free choice for consumers”, said Thomas Vinje, a legal counsel for FairSearch.
According to the EU Commission, Google is a dominant force, holding more than 90% of the market for general internet search, licensable smart mobile operating systems and app stores for the Android mobile operating system.
The Commission’s preliminary conclusion is that by imposing conditions on manufacturers, Google limits manufacturers’ freedom to choose the most appropriate apps to pre-install and adversely affect competition in the market for mobile browsers.
Vestager said Wednesday’s move in no way prejudges the outcome of its investigation.
Kawasaki’s comments fall in line with Google, which has argued that, rather than stifle innovation in the mobile app market, its Android system has encouraged it. “In addition, [Google also seems] to harm consumers by stifling competition and restricting innovation in the wider mobile space”.
That case, which has dragged on since late 2010, culminated past year with the European Commission filing antitrust charges against Google.
The commission says Google violated antitrust rules by requiring mobile manufacturers to pre-install programs like Google Search and Chrome in order to license Google apps.
The company added that pre-loading apps helps to make new phones more stable. On April 15 previous year, it announced a “statement of objections” against the search giant in an investigation into charges that its Internet search in Europe favored its own comparison shopping product.
The company goes on to describe that the nature of its partner contracts are voluntary, and when agreeing to “participate in the Android ecosystem” they have the choice whether or not to load the suite of Google apps to their device.
“The impact of Google’s practices is highly relevant for today’s users, as over half of internet traffic takes place on mobile devices – and this share is growing”.
Google, based in Mountain View, California, now has 12 weeks to respond to Vestager’s objections. “We look forward to working with the European Commission to demonstrate that Android is good for competition and good for consumer”.
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The European Commission said this could drive away traffic from competitors and hinder them from competing. The apps wouldn’t work from one Android device to the next without the system.
