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EU accuses Google of abusing dominance in Android

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday accused technology giant Google of abusing dominance in its Android mobile phone operating system.

The move came after a one-year antitrust investigation against Google over its practices relating to the Android and its applications running on Android.

The EU now concluded that these practices breach its antitrust rules.

"We found that Google pursues an overall strategy on mobile devices to protect and expand its dominant position in internet search," said EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager.

The EU said Google imposed unjustified restrictions and conditions on manufacturers of devices running its Android mobile operating system as well as on mobile network operators.

Google has shares of over 90 percent in Europe in the markets for general internet search services, licensable smart mobile operating systems and app stores for the Android operating system.

"Our preliminary view is that Google has abused its dominant positions in these three markets," said Vestager.

The EU said Google pre-installed Google Search and set as the default, or exclusive, search service on most Android devices sold in Europe and closed off ways for rival search engines to access the market, via competing mobile browsers and operating systems.

Smartphone and tablet manufacturers were not free to choose which search engines and which browsers to install on their devices because of Google's restrictive licensing practices.

Google also prevented manufacturers who wish to pre-install Google apps on even one of their devices from using modified, competing versions of Android on any of their other devices.

Besides, Google provided financial incentives to manufacturers and mobile network operators on condition that Google Search is pre-installed as the exclusive search provider on their devices.

"As a result of Google's behavior, rival search engines, mobile operating systems and web browsers have not been able to compete on their merits, but have rather been artificially excluded from certain business opportunities," said Vestager.

If the European Commission, the EU's executive body, comes to the conclusion that EU antitrust rules have been breached, google has to change its practices and may face fines.

"Android has helped foster a remarkable -- and, importantly, sustainable -- ecosystem, based on open-source software and open innovation," said Google General Counsel Kent Walker in a statement.

Google will work with the EU "to demonstrate that Android is good for competition and good for consumers," he added.

Google now has 12 weeks to respond and also has the possibility to request an oral hearing to present its views. Endit