A Google search page is seen through the spectacles of a computer user in Leicester, central England July 20, 2007. (Photo : REUTERS/DARREN STAPLES)
Russian internet watchdogs have accused Google of forcing smartphone vendors to install its own apps as well as Google Play illegally on Android phones.
According to The New York Times, Russian officials have ruled that Google has abused its market position in terms of Android and mobile operating systems in Russia, by favoring its own services over Russian Internet Company and competitor Yandex.
The Russian company operates the largest search engine in Russia and owns about 60 percent market share. Yandex is also involved in developing Internet-based services and products and is considered the fourth largest search engine across the globe.
Earlier in the year, Yandex made a complaint to the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service Authority against Google saying Android phone manufactures are unable to include its digital offerings through the Android platform.
The Russian regulator began investigating the claims and opened the case in Feb. to investigate if Google had in fact bundled its own services such as Google maps and other software.
With the investigations concluded recently the authorities have revealed that Google has abused its market dominance and broken Russian law as well. The Internet giant is being accused of requiring that phone manufacturers install its app store and other related applications on Android phones which are meant to be sold in Russia.
In addition the Russian authorities are accusing Google of having the their apps on the homescreen. According to the Boston Globe, Russian authorities have said this action has prevented competing serviceproviders from being able to have their apps installed by manufacturers.
The publication quoted a statement by Yandex saying Russia is the first country to have recognized the practices of Google favoring its own services as anti-competitive. The statement said the anti-trust ruling by the Russian authority against Google would "serve to restore competition in the market."
While other international antitrust watchdogs are taking a tough line against Google under Russian law a fine of up to15 percent of Google's revenue from services and goods sold in the market where the offence has taken place is the reported penalty.
