Android market under the microscope: Google's app rules under investigation
Google's contracts with smartphone manufacturers and the new rules it has introduced for app developers have been caught in a Competition Board investigation. Competitive conditions in the sector regarding the mobile operating system and application market will be re-evaluated.
12punto
The Competition Board has announced that it has launched an official investigation to examine whether Google's practices regarding the Android operating system violate competition. In its statement, the Board indicated that it would specifically investigate whether Google's contracts with phone manufacturers and the new obligations imposed on app developers are hindering fair competition in the market.
Following the competition fine imposed on Google in 2018, whether the company has fully fulfilled its obligations and whether the changes made are to the detriment of other players in the market are also among the focal points of the investigation. In particular, the focus will be on whether restrictive conditions that could hinder the development of alternative applications have emerged.
The Board stated that this investigation, which will be conducted to maintain the competitive structure of the mobile application ecosystem and to offer more choices to consumers, could be decisive for the future of the sector. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Google may need to change the policies and rules it follows in the mobile sector.