U.S. antitrust authorities could follow European Union in investigating Google’s Android deals

According to reports, Google is again under the watchful scrutiny from U.S antitrust regulator on charge whether the access Google has to Android OS has stifled competition.

If the FTC strikes in direction of pursuing a case towards Google, it must strictly lay down its foremost issues in a so-known as assertion of objections, which provides Google a possibility to reply. This might mean that the investigation will be opened and concluded with no official action taken against Google.

Google might get away with this in the US.

However, in another case against the company the European Commission has charged Google with illegally favoring its own comparison shopping service in search results, ahead of rival services. Moreover, if the investigation goes from preliminary to a full-on comprehensive investigation leading to antitrust complaints, the consequences can be quite damaging to the Internet giant. However, unlike Microsoft’s Windows OS, Android is a not a monopoly. In fact, Google doesn’t extract direct profits from its OS unlike its rival Apple Computers.

“We meet newscast of the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation into Google’s control of the portable market”. Makers of smart phones are not obliged to use the Android operation system licensed by Google. The leak of the confidential document has made some companies more hesitant to come forward now for fear of exposure, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. The FTC goes additional than that, however its strategies are extra summary and onerous to show, stated Fox Information.

Googles competitors were using the leaked document to “sow confusion and undermine the FTCs conclusions”, Googles director of public policy, Johanna Shelton wrote to the FTC on March 23. A complaint from Yandex triggered the Russian case decided last week. The FTC did not respond to a request for comment on reports of a new investigation.

Google bundles its products in the shape of irremovable software such as search, maps and email. They are also examining whether handset makers are blocked from developing their own versions of Android, adding to Googles worries in a region that makes up one-third of its revenue.

-With assistance from Gaspard Sebag in Brussels, Stephanie Bodoni in Luxembourg and Brian Womack in San Francisco.