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Back in June, the European Commission ruled against Google in an antitrust case surrounding the search engine's ‘Shopping' site. According to the commission, Google promoted its own services on the shopping page, harming competition and resulting in a massive €2.42 billion fine. However, this wasn't the only antitrust case out against Google, the EU is also investigating Android, which could end up netting Google an even bigger fine.
Last month's antitrust fine against Google was the biggest the EU has ever handed down, beating out Intel's fine from several years ago. Now, according to Reuters, EU regulators are considering being even harsher in the Android antitrust case, after rival software companies complained that Google forced phone makers to bundle Google's suite of apps if they wanted access to the Play Store.
The complaint seems to be that some apps and services end up being at a disadvantage if Google's own apps are already pre-installed and readily accessible. If the European Commission ends up ruling this as anti-competitive behaviour, then it could mean that Google will need to make some fundamental changes to Android, as parts of the OS are now tied in to various services, like Google Now.
A final decision in this case may not arrive for some time but right now, a panel is reviewing the EU's plans and the final ruling should be announced before the end of this year.
KitGuru Says: While it might be true that having pre installed Google apps may make it less likely for some users to go looking elsewhere for various things, for the most part, Google just makes good apps. I don't necessarily think that forcing Google to remove its own apps will make them any less popular than they already are, it just means users will have to actively look those apps up instead.
So the EU promotes a free market yet punishes any American firm for being successful whilst rigging European contracts to benefits European companies. Things like this makes me so happy that the UK is leaving this corrupt institution.
This plain and simple horse shit. It’s Googles OS they invested time and money into it of coarse they will want their Apps included on the installs. By the way google play I think it’s called needs to be installed so you can go to the play store. This is no different than what Apple or Samsung or MS do. You need the entry point Apps to get to the rest of the Apps. Does Google give away the OS to phone makers? If they do then the phone makers need to STFU Google needs to make money just like the phone makers want to but they make big upfront money because they sell their hardware.These companies are just greedy aholes. Here is a thought Google takes out the Apps then after the device activates they install and set the play store as default. Google should also charge the phone makers for the OS that will shut them up and then they can reflect back on how good they used to have it.
I’m Sorry but all I see is the EU going after rich American companies. Where does this money go better question where do you think it goes. I bet it don’t go where you think it does and the top brass take a big part of it right off the top and the rest s used for expenses. The powers that be need to dissolve them they seem to like to over step their boundaries and don’t actually give a shit about what they are preaching.
Google has much more power than the piss pot that is the European Commission! xD I’d threaten to cease operations here around the EU, there’d be massive outrage 😛 what a horrible injustice! Imagine! You make an operating system and load something you made with your own proprietary software that was built for the operating system you invented. There are modes versions of the OS the can be installed without Google’s software, they can’t be find if a manufacturer chooses to use Google’s own unmodded Android OS
And now you’re getting shat on because people choose to load your OS onto a phone that comes preloaded with your software! Oh, what!?
Quick someone fine Microsoft because Windows comes loaded with the Microsoft Store! :O and Edge, I think IE is still on there somewhere and Groove Music and their movie renting service. Gee wiz Microsoft, you’re racking up a hefty fine because people are using your shit that comes pre loaded with your shit…. Fucking EU…
They fleece member countries with taxes every year too, because of Brexit they’ll no longer be making anymore of that sweet, sweet British Pound and are just gonna attack mega rich companies until the EU eventually fall apart
Prech it