Google's Android smartphone and tablet software is a “Trojan horse” designed to seize control of the mobile internet market, a complaint to European regualtors by an international coalition of technology firms claims.
The group of 17 calls itself FairSearch and is led by Microsoft. It is already awaiting the outcome of a long-running European Commission investigation of Google’s dominance of the general web search market.
On Tuesday it said Google was using Android to “deceive” smartphone and tablet manufacturers into cementing its hold on the burgeoning mobile internet. FairSearch made a formal complaint to Joaquín Almunia, the competition commissioner, calling on him to investigate Android.
The software was installed on almost 500 million handsets shipped last year, or around 69 per cent of the total, according to industry analysts IDC. Its manufacturing partners include Samsung, HTC and Sony.
The new FairSearch complaint argues that by giving Android away on the condition that manufacturers also install Google services such as Maps, YouTube or Google Play, its app and content store, rivals are unfairly disadvantaged.
"We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to protect competition and innovation in this critical market," said Thomas Vinje, a European competition law specialist at Clifford Chance, acting for FairSearch.
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