An official antitrust complaint has been filed against Google in Europe having to do with the Android operating system. The court complaint alleges that Google is using its mobile operating system in deceptive ways. The complaint was filed by Fairsearch Europe.
Fairsearch Europe is an association comprised of multiple companies including Microsoft and Nokia among others. The new antitrust complaint comes on the heels of regulators wrapping up an investigation into other areas of Google’s operation. The complaint alleges that Google is using Android to give its own apps and related services a competitive advantage.
The complaint alleges that Google gives itself this competitive advantage by forcing manufacturers to include Google apps on the home screen. Antitrust chief for the EU to Joaquin Almunia did say that regulators had been looking into Android separately from the Search issue, but didn’t offer a statement specifically on Fairsearch Europe’s allegations.
While the complaint against Android has been launched officially, the choice to pursue the complaint is up to the EU. Regulators could choose to ignore the complaint and whether or not an official investigation will begin will be announced at a later date. Google has offered no official comment on the allegations.
[via SlashGear]
Remarkable that Microsoft is part of it. Microsoft is part of this organisation, but it would be better to look first in the mirror. Microsoft itself does nothing else as giving their own apps, tools and services a competitive advantage. Because if you want to buy a new computer, what is pre-installed on this device? Right Windows and Windows tools! You don’t have the choice.
Google gives his manufacturers and developers the freedom of choice. As you can see how many differences their are between the different Android devices of the manufacturers.
Apple and FB do abuse much more as Google of this kind of practices to give advantages to their own tools. Apple believers have usually praised the Apple’s products, because they pray them as “supposedly” the best innovative tools. If you can use the FB Phone (HTC First and later from other manufacturers), the user will be required to use the FB tools to get the best performances of his device.
It’s clear that Microsoft only wants to tackle Google, because Google haves with his Android OS a very large market share in the EU and Microsoft haves already paid a lot of damages in the EU. Also Google haves taken a big market share in this market in the place of Microsoft where WP may have potentiel, but WP can’t participate in the mobile battle.
It’s really childish from MickeySoft.
That’s so true. How dare they offer a operating system that focuses on their own products. They should focus on Blackberry or MSoft and maybe even promote Apple products. Google has gone mad with power! Next thing you know Amazon will make their own OS and force people into their world….. using Android…. owned by Google yet shunning Google!! Oh wait, that’s impossible because Google forces manufactures to install their products.