European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
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Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#2Can anyone concisely explain what this fine is for, and also why the same wouldn't apply to Apple for iOS?
It seems to be a rehash of the issue that Microsoft faced when it only gave you Internet Explorer on install. But iOS comes with only Safari on install, and forces you to use Apple's various apps - how is this any different?
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#3europe is just jealous of america's success...
For the record volkswagen only paid 1.2 bn to germany for its emissions scam
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/business/volkswagen-emiss...
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#4Can anyone concisely explain what this fine is for, and also why the same wouldn't apply to Apple for iOS? It seems to be a rehash of the issue that Microsoft faced when it only gave you Internet Explorer on install. But iOS comes with only Safari on install, and forces you to use Apple's various apps - how is this any different?
> how is this any different
It's not. Be Patient.
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#5Paywalled. Small article. Copy pasting entire article as comment.
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BRUSSELS—The European Union plans to hit Alphabet Inc.’s Google with a record antitrust fine of €4.34 billion ($5.06 billion) on Wednesday, according to an official familiar with the matter, a decision that could loosen the company’s grip on its biggest growth engine: mobile phones.
A formal decision—which would mark the EU’s sharpest rebuke yet to the power of a handful of tech giants—is set to be taken during Wednesday morning’s meeting of EU commissioners following a presentation by competition chief Margrethe Vestager, according to the person. No discussion of the decision is expected, the official said.
The EU’s antitrust regulator has been looking into whether Google had abused the dominance of its Android operating system, which runs more than 80% of the world’s smartphones, in order to promote and entrench its own mobile apps and services—particularly the company’s eponymous search engine.
Google, which can appeal, has rejected the EU’s case since the bloc issued formal charges over two years ago. Google says Android, which is free for manufacturers to use, has increased competition among smartphone makers, lowering the prices for consumers. Google also says the allegation that it stymied competing apps is false because manufacturers typically install many rival apps on Android devices—and consumers can download others.
The fine would top the EU’s €2.4 billion antitrust decision against Google just over a year ago.
Wednesday’s expected ruling would be the latest in a series of decisions in which the EU has cast itself in the vanguard of a backlash against U.S. tech superpowers, on issues ranging from competition to taxes to privacy. Ms. Vestager has become the face of that battle, arguing that regulators must do more to restore fairness to the digital market.
The EU’s executive announced Wednesday morning that Ms. Vestager would give a press conference at 7 a.m. ET.
Write to Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#6Can anyone concisely explain what this fine is for, and also why the same wouldn't apply to Apple for iOS? It seems to be a rehash of the issue that Microsoft faced when it only gave you Internet Explorer on install. But iOS comes with only Safari on install, and forces you to use Apple's various apps - how is this any different?
Apple does not have a monopoly dominant position. In my country I think they are like 10% of the market. You can't abuse your dominant position if you don't have one.
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#7Can anyone concisely explain what this fine is for, and also why the same wouldn't apply to Apple for iOS? It seems to be a rehash of the issue that Microsoft faced when it only gave you Internet Explorer on install. But iOS comes with only Safari on install, and forces you to use Apple's various apps - how is this any different?
apple doesn't have market dominance, thats the claim, anyway this fine is stupid, see my comment about how volkswagen only paid 1 billion to germany for its emissions scam, europe is just trying to siphone money from american tech companies.
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#8To put that into context:
> Despite being a record fine, Alphabet generated about the same amount of money every 16 days in 2017, based on the company’s reported annual revenue of $110.9 billion for the year.
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#9Paywalled. Small article. Copy pasting entire article as comment. ----------- BRUSSELS—The European Union plans to hit Alphabet Inc.’s Google with a record antitrust fine of €4.34 billion ($5.06 billion) on Wednesday, according to an official familiar with the matter, a decision that could loosen the company’s grip on its biggest growth engine: mobile phones. A formal decision—which would mark the EU’s sharpest rebuk…
Doing god's work, thank you.
Re: European Commission fines Google €4.34B in Android antitrust case
#10Is this a serious fine, or just a slap on the fingers?
Can Google just continue their practices after this?