The European Commission hit Google with a $5.1 billion fine today, stating that the tech company broke EU antitrust laws by striking deals with Android phone manufacturers to favor Google`s services over rival services (via The New York Times).
Android P is the newest version of the software, set to launch this fall
Specifically, the European Commission pointed towards the Google search bar and Chrome web browser coming pre-installed on Android smartphones like those made by HTC, Huawei, and Samsung. With these options already in smartphones when users purchase them, other services are `unfairly boxed out.`
`Google has used Android as a vehicle to cement the dominance of its search engine,` said Margrethe Vestager, Europe´s antitrust chief. `These practices have denied rivals the chance to innovate and compete on the merits. They have denied European consumers the benefits of effective competition in the important mobile sphere. This is illegal under E.U. antitrust rules.` Now, Google has 90 days to ends these practices or face penalties of up to 5 percent of the worldwide average daily revenues of parent company Alphabet. In response, Google`s European Twitter account confirmed that the company will appeal the Commission`s decision.
.@Android provides choice. With Android, you have a choice of 24,000 devices, at every price point, from more than 1,300 different brands & with over 1 million apps available in the Google Play Store. #AndroidWorks More on our blog: https://t.co/dOXaQ6ZPT3 pic.twitter.com/kK8EHiAVqb— Google Europe (@googleeurope) July 18, 2018
Google CEO Sundar Pichai commented on the decision in his own blog post today, pointing out that Android phones come preloaded `with as many as 40 apps from multiple developers,` not just Google. Users can delete them if they want and install their own choices after they purchase the smartphone.
According to Pichai, the EU fine `sends a troubling signal in favo ...
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