Google ordered by Russian regulator to unbundle Android search

Google has witnessed a surge in market share in Russian Federation, rising from 34 percent in 2014 to 42 percent over the course of a year. The sum may involve up to 15 percent of the revenue generated by Google’s preinstalled apps and services.

In Russian Federation, Android holds the dominant position, with 65 percent of mobile devices in the country running Google’s mobile operating system. “Device makers are free to use Android with or without Google applications and consumers have complete freedom to use rival applications”.

The investigation began in February after competitor Yandex lodged a complaint against the California-based giant.

The FAS released a statement regarding the issue with Google saying, “To restore competition on the market, Google should amend agreements with mobile-device producers within a month and exclude the anti-competitive clauses”.

Yandex suggested that additional measures might be necessary unless the situation changes. No matter Google’s decisions in response to the FAS though, Yandex is more than willing to continue its fight against what it feels is unfair competition, stating they are intending to defend their position on the matter should the case result in an appeal at any level.

The regulator last month ruled that Google was abusing its market dominance through Android, following a complaint by search engine provider Yandex.

Yandex and Google alike understand the needs of web users, and they both know how to provide a top-notch service.

Google has been told by Russian authorities to change agreements with Android hardware producers so it will comply with local competition laws.

Russian Federation and several other countries have cracked down on U.S. Internet companies, launching investigations into their market power and introducing new regulations that give them more access to-and control of-information and user data stored by these companies.

Google’s Russian press office declined to comment on the regulator’s demands. The feature is rolling out soon, coming first to Nexus phones and then to other Androids on the newest operating system for that platform, Marshmallow. It wants those partners to be able to include apps that aren’t made by Google, rather than featuring its own apps and driving people toward those services.