Giants file antitrust suit against Google
Source: Agencies |
April 10, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GOOGLE is using unfair practices to cement its control over mobile Internet usage on smartphones, a group of companies led by Microsoft alleged in a European antitrust complaint yesterday.
The "FairSearch" initiative of 17 companies, which includes Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle, claims Google is acting unfairly by giving away its Android operating system to mobile device companies on the condition that the US online giant's own software applications like YouTube and Google Maps are installed and prominently displayed.
"Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a Trojan horse to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data," said Thomas Vinje, the group's Brussels-based lawyer.
Android systems have the largest share of the smartphone market worldwide, followed by Apple's iOS platform with systems from Blackberry, Microsoft and others far behind. "Google's predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google's dominant mobile platform," FairSearch said.
The "FairSearch" initiative of 17 companies, which includes Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle, claims Google is acting unfairly by giving away its Android operating system to mobile device companies on the condition that the US online giant's own software applications like YouTube and Google Maps are installed and prominently displayed.
"Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a Trojan horse to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data," said Thomas Vinje, the group's Brussels-based lawyer.
Android systems have the largest share of the smartphone market worldwide, followed by Apple's iOS platform with systems from Blackberry, Microsoft and others far behind. "Google's predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google's dominant mobile platform," FairSearch said.
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