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Microsoft and Nokia lean on EU

by on10 April 2013



Take down Google for us

Microsoft and Nokia are leaning on EU antitrust regulators to take more action against Google. Apparently they claim that Google is accusing it of blocking competition in mobile telephony.

Google is trying to settle a two-year long investigation by the European Commission into its internet search practices and avert a $5 billion fine. But more than a dozen companies have voiced their grievances about Google's search practices to the Commission. The investigation's initially was interested in Google’s search engine, but European Union Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia received complaints about Android too.

Almunia has said he aims to reach a settlement with Google in the latter half of the year. The complainants, however, are frustrated with the pace of his investigation. Lobbying group FairSearch, which includes Microsoft and Nokia, accused the Google of using Android to divert traffic to its search engine.

FairSearch's other members include Oracle, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Twenga, British price comparison site Foundem and adMarketplace. FairSearch's lawyer Thomas Vinje said in a statement that Google was using its Android mobile operating system as a 'Trojan Horse' to deceive partners, monopolise the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data,".

If the EU does not stop it, Google will repeat its desktop abuses of dominance as consumers increasingly turn to a mobile platform dominated by Android. Google won a major victory in the United States in January when the Federal Trade Commission ended an investigation without any significant action against the company.

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