FTC Investigating Google Over Anti-Competitive Android Practices

A technology company offering a competing service to a Google service has a hard time to make a business.

But regardless of the outcome, for now, Google faces the unhappy prospect of having to defend itself on several fronts.

As Reuters notes in its report on the story, tech companies have previously complained to the DoJ requesting it investigate claims that Google unfairly uses Android to boost online advertising.

Earlier this year, the European Commission also began investigating allegations of anti-competitive practices focused mainly on Android as well. Now, the company is facing an investigation into Android in the United States as well. Under that settlement, Microsoft agreed to share its APIs (application programming interfaces) with third-party companies seeking to develop Windows-compatible software. Think about it, every device that uses Android comes with Google Play Store pre-installed, which is supplying every Android smartphone with apps.

“The question for Android is do they really have sufficient market power, particularly in a world where there are other mobile-phone operating systems?” he said.

John Simpson, director of the Privacy Project at the advocacy organization Consumer Watchdog, told us he was pleased to hear about the FTC’s possible investigation of Google.

Mr. Lockheimer said Google’s agreements with manufacturers ensured that Android phones would work well when people first bought them, by getting basic services like email and maps preinstalled and functioning harmoniously.

The European Union has also been having its challenges with Google.

According to official reports, Android is truly a monopoly, especially in the apps arena.

The threat of an investigation adds to a steady trickle of potential regulatory enforcement faced by Google across the globe.

Yet Google’s competitors lobby too. Shelton urged the FTC to “defend its reputation, showing that it followed a thorough process”, according to the e-mail.

The FTC inquiry may not result in formal charges filed against Google.

Josh Simpson, the director of the Privacy Project at the advocacy organization Consumer Watchdog, was very happy to learn about the FTC’s possible investigation of Google. In the U.S., Google controls 65 percent of the smartphone market, according to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

The Android operating system launched in 2008, following close on the heels of Apple’s original iPhone launch.