Google Hits Back At EU Over Android Anti-Trust Claims

Google has responded to an investigation from the European Commission over anti-trust laws. After a 2015 investigation of the Android operating system, the search company said that it was a “flexible” platform that had a beneficial effect on the market by allowing competition to “expand”. The operating system was accused of forcing manufacturers of devices that used Android to negotiate, before Google gave incentives for the pre-installation of Google apps. It is also accused of offering a number of its own apps to manufacturers for pre-installation. Google claims that its competitors at Apple and Microsoft do the same on a wider basis, and that it only offers multiple apps so consumers have basic services “when they buy a new phone”. However, the EU said the investigation was vital as “four out of five smartphones sold today run on Android”. 

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