The Google logo is displayed on a sign outside of the Google headquarters on September 2, 2015 in Mountain View, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)
The European authorities are going after Google, claiming it exploits dominance in the industry with the Android mobile operating system, eventually hurting innovation, competition and the consumers. Google allows any phone or tablet maker use Android on their devices and have the Google Play Store app preinstalled on their products given that they already installed its search engine Chrome and make it the default browser.
Google is charged for preinstalling its Search engine that curbs competition when it comes to searches for flights, hotels and other services, limiting the diversity of the Internet. It could face European Union antitrust sanction this year, with little chances of settling a test case over its shopping service, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Some original equipment manufacturers get paid if they preinstall the Google search function. Such practices are not considered illegal, especially if it is an efficient search tool. The Google Play store offers browser options one could possibly need and most desktop users prefer the Google's extensive and long-running search function than the old search engines. Some Android users do not like to have other products installed in their device except the default Google offerings.
The European Commission recently charged the Mountain View, California-based company for forcefully preinstalling its products through manufacturers. Needless to say, Google's free Android program does not require preinstalled Google apps and even if it does, it is not necessarily harmful or illegal to rivals and consumers.
A similar case happened in 2015 when consumers filed a suit against Google in California's Federal District Court. They bought Android powered phones only to find out Google search is already installed on them. Their complaint was that the company limited user choice and hindered innovation.
Nevertheless, the federal district judge did not find enough proof of that the preinstalled Google search engine is harmful to the plaintiffs. She ruled that such practice does not affect product prices since Android and other apps are free, Bidness ETC has learned.
It is worth mentioning that Amazon preinstalled its own shopping app in its Android-powered Fire phones but the devices lacked apps, such as Gmail and Maps that contributed to the failure of its devices. It is clear that sans Google apps, Android phones lower their value to the consumers. Being aware of what consumers might need and even expect, Google grows its ecosystem around its platform but not to hurt developers or manufacturers.
The motivation behind the lawsuit for the European authorities to act against Google could be the firm's rivals, the biggest of which was Microsoft, which search engine Bing is not as successful as Google search. The EU authorities said they echo concerns brought by rivals who are struggling to put their products at par with Google's. However, the case could be that their products are inferior to Google's and it is not something to be blamed to the Internet titan.
The video that follows is when EU authorities announced their antitrust charges against Google.
