A group of companies have filed an antitrust complaint in the European Union alleging anti-competitive behavior against Google's Android operating system. Other companies in the group, including Microsoft, Nokia and Oracle, are claiming that Android OS is unfairly leveraging Google's mobile applications.
The group, called FairSearch Europe, said in a press release that although the original Android operating system was provided free of charge, any OEM (original equipment manufacturer) would want to save their entire app suite when they want to license Google Maps, YouTube, Play Store or other Google apps. There are some special benefits that are not competitive.
Android OS: "Below Trojan Horse"?
The group added that providing the Android operating system for free (or "below the hassle" means less than the cost of developing it) makes it difficult for other competing companies in the sector to raise investment. FairSearch has compared Google's strategy for distributing the software to "looting" activities.
Complainant group's chief counsel Thomas Vince likened the Android OS to a "Trojan horse" that seeks to control consumer data by deceiving its partners and creating a market dictatorship. In this case, Fair Search presented Google's 96 percent market share in mobile search and 80 percent market share in smartphone shipments as evidence.
This is not the first time Google has been accused of "antitrust" or anti-market sentiment. The web giant has previously faced investigations in Europe, America, search, data collection, transparency of the Android operating system, privacy policy, etc.