In July 2018, the European Commission ruled that Google had exhibited “anticompetitive behavior” in its dealings with Android partners. The Commission said that Google should not have required Android phone and tablet makers to install Chrome and search in order to install the rest of Google’s apps. And the Commission also said that Google should not have barred its partners from building devices based on forked versions of Android.
Google is appealing the ruling. But for the time being, the company has to make changes to how it licenses its suite of Android apps and services in Europe. That means charging a fee for its base suite of apps — Gmail, YouTube, and critically, the Play Store, among others — and allowing companies to add those apps without adding Chrome and search, opening up the potential for other browsers and search engines to step in.
Jan 9, 2020, 11:39 AM UTCJames Vincent
Bing loses out to DuckDuckGo in Google’s new Android search engine ballot
Google will start offering EU users a choice for their default search engine
Mar 20, 2019, 6:55 AM UTCSam Byford
Google will give Android users a choice of browser and search engine in Europe
A further response to record antitrust fine
Oct 25, 2018, 8:38 PM UTCNick Statt
Alphabet’s ad business is booming, but Google controversies continue to pile up
Oct 18, 2018, 11:00 AM UTCJacob Kastrenakes
Google could finally face serious competition for Android
It won’t be easy — but major phone makers can actually try
Oct 17, 2018, 7:50 PM UTCShannon Liao
Want to understand the future of Android in Europe? Look at China
Oct 16, 2018, 5:28 PM UTCJacob Kastrenakes and Nilay Patel
Google will start charging Android device makers a fee for using its apps in Europe
Android will still be “free and open source”
Jul 19, 2018, 12:48 PM UTCTom Warren
Europe’s giant Google fine is too little, too late
The EU ruling won’t do much to change Google’s web dominance
Jul 19, 2018, 12:12 PM UTCChaim Gartenberg
Six questions you were afraid to ask about Google’s EU antitrust case
The $5 billion question(s)
Jul 18, 2018, 12:54 PM UTCTom Warren
Google warns Android might not remain free because of EU decision
An unlikely warning
Jul 18, 2018, 11:02 AM UTCTom Warren
Google fined a record $5 billion by the EU for Android antitrust violations
Google required to stop ‘illegally tying’ Chrome and search apps to Android
Jun 7, 2018, 3:02 PM UTCTom Warren
Google facing a Microsoft moment with EU fine over Android antitrust violations
Jul 6, 2017, 10:10 AM UTCTom Warren
Google's next EU fine could be even bigger for Android violations
Apr 9, 2013, 3:48 AM UTCJeff Blagdon
Microsoft and others file EU antitrust complaint over Android app bundling