European antitrust case against Google and Android – Computerworld.nl

News – Enough talk. After 5 years of bickering, the European Commission formally suing Google for competition through its search engine. Also abuse of power with Android is examined.

The antitrust sword of Damocles hangs over five years above Google will still fail. Is the dominant search engine company repel it? The European Commission is concentrating itself in the indictment on Google Shopping, the price of products previously under the name Google Product Search Froogle and unrolled

Own price first

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Froogle received no preferential treatment, and failed, finds the EC. Then Google has taken all kinds of unfair measures to push its vertical product search, to the detriment of competition. As Google Shopping results are prominently displayed, even if they are not particularly relevant. Google Shopping was immune from sanctions that were rivals or to choose.

In this way, the Google Shopping artificially inflated, to the detriment of the rest of the market. This has a negative impact on consumers: who does not get the most relevant results and discourage rivals to invest and innovate, in the Commission

Doubtful Android Deals

But the arrows are not only focused on the search engine. Android also being investigated. Include Microsoft complained that Google unfairly forcing manufacturers to bundle Google apps in Android. This Android has become a Trojan horse for Google services. Alternative app stores have no chance, says another complaint. However, the case against appbundeling in Android is still in an early stage, the research is now formally launched.

These are three issues: the exclusivity that Google when manufacturers would enforce when installing its apps, banning Android partners to get started with geforkte Android alternatives (enforced in Open Handset Alliance), and the bundling of a growing number of Google apps, manufacturers can make a selection, it is choking or swallowing.

Blessing for consumers

Meanwhile, Google is trying the morale of the troops to keep high in an internal memo, which, however, is clearly meant for more than internal use. Google itself states that his case was “very strong”, so it is likely to contest the complaint.

According to the group is to provide direct answers instead of the traditional blue linkjes purely in the interests of consumers, it saves a lot of time and clatter. Moreover, people with one click switch to a competitor. And that competition is growing, says the group, pointing to more traffic on shopping and travel sites from rivals.

Android is a boon for consumers, Google argues. The prices of smartphones have fallen dramatically. In addition, it took a goldmine for app- and content creators, who last year alone $ 7 billion turnover on the Android platform. Also, apps rivals often preinstalled. The conclusion: there is enough choice. In two blog posts Google makes the same arguments again revealed.

Since the European Commission thinks so differently. It promises to be a war of attrition, similar to the antitrust cases against Microsoft and Intel. The outcome remains uncertain for the European consumer.