FairSearch to EU: Google’s Android A ‘Trojan Horse’ to Dominate Mobile Markets - Polidicks

[quote]BRUSSELS – April 9, 2013 – FairSearch.org has filed a complaint with the European Commission laying out Google’s anti-competitive strategy to dominate the mobile marketplace and cement its control over consumer Internet data for online advertising as usage shifts to mobile. Google’s Android is the dominant smartphone operating system, running in 70% of units shipped at the end of 2012, according to Strategy Analytics. Google also dominates mobile search advertising with 96% of the market, according to eMarketer. The complaint says Google uses deceptive conduct to lockout competition in mobile. “Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a ‘Trojan Horse’ to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data,” said Thomas Vinje, Brussels-based counsel to the FairSearch coalition. “We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to protect competition and innovation in this critical market. Failure to act will only embolden Google to repeat its desktop abuses of dominance as consumers increasingly turn to a mobile platform dominated by Google’s Android operating system.” FairSearch is an international coalition of 17 specialized search and technology companies whose members include Expedia, Microsoft, Nokia, Oracle, and TripAdvisor. Google achieved its dominance in the smartphone operating system market by giving Android to device-makers for ‘free.’ But in reality, Android phone makers who want to include must-have Google apps such as Maps, YouTube or Play are required to pre-load an entire suite of Google mobile services and to give them prominent default placement on the phone, the complaint says. This disadvantages other providers, and puts Google’s Android in control of consumer data on a majority of smartphones shipped today.Google’s predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google’s dominant mobile platform, the complaint says. The FairSearch complaint comes at a crucial time in the Internet’s development, with users increasingly shifting their use from desktop to mobile platforms. Mobile Internet usage is expected to overtake desktop usage as soon as 2014, according to MindCommerce. The European Commission is already considering how to remedy concerns that Google may be abusing its dominance in desktop search advertising, in particular Google’s search bias that favors its own services in search results. Meanwhile, in April, six European data protection authorities began coordinating efforts to force Google to comply with EU privacy laws they say Google violated by consolidating its privacy policies. Google paid a record fine to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in August 2012 to settle charges it gave misleading privacy promises to Safari Internet browser users. “European consumers deserve a rigorous investigation of Google’s mobile practices, and real protections against further abuses by Google,” said Vinje. “Given Google’s track record of ignoring the law, mobile Internet users should be very concerned.”[/quote] [url=http://www.fairsearch.org/mobile/fairsearch-announces-complaint-in-eu-on-googles-anti-competitive-mobile-strategy/]Source[/url]

[quote]waaah their product is selling better than mine, stop it![/quote] is what I got out of that I'd take it a bit more seriously if it wasn't for [quote]FairSearch is an international coalition of 17 specialized search and technology companies whose members include Expedia, Microsoft, Nokia, Oracle, and TripAdvisor.[/quote]

[quote]Google’s predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google’s dominant mobile platform, the complaint says.[/quote] Give me one legitimate reason why they shouldn't do that if they can afford to.

[quote]Google’s predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google’s dominant mobile platform, the complaint says.[/quote] Their complaint is that they're selling android devices for [I]reasonable prices[/I].

"Oh no, not our monopoly!"

It's sad that consumers only choices are iOS, Windows, and Android. I wish there was a better linux based open source OS than Android to choose from :pwn:

[QUOTE=The Baconator;40244418]It's sad that consumers only choices are iOS, Windows, and Android. I wish there was a better linux based open source OS than Android to choose from :pwn:[/QUOTE] Firefox OS is interesting, since its webapps I can easily tweak it or fix apps when developers fuck them up with a bad interface.

"Google, please stop under selling us, please we need money, we can't compete with you and we don't want to sell anything for a somewhat sensible price, gooble plz!" "No fuck you guys, make better products worth the cost" "EU PLEASE, GOOBLE WON'T DROP COSTS!"

[QUOTE=Ray-The-Sun;40244359]Their complaint is that they're selling android devices for [I]reasonable prices[/I].[/QUOTE] They can't beat them on hype, price, ecosystem or funcionality. It's easier to spread FUD and sabotage them into becoming worse, than actually becoming better. [QUOTE=The Baconator;40244418]It's sad that consumers only choices are iOS, Windows, and Android. I wish there was a better linux based open source OS than Android to choose from :pwn:[/QUOTE] If Microsoft hadn't trojan horsed Nokia we could have had MeeGo, the N9 was ahead of it's time in terms of performance and UI, but Nokia killed it and every single OSS/Linux based project to focus on Windows Phone.

The European Commission isn't known for making rash uninformed decisions so I'm not particularly worried

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;40244482]"Google, please stop under selling us, please we need money, we can't compete with you and we don't want to sell anything for a somewhat sensible price, gooble plz!" "No fuck you guys, make better products worth the cost" "EU PLEASE, GOOBLE WON'T DROP COSTS!"[/QUOTE] You do realize the same could be said about Microsoft when they got (rightfully) sued and nearly broken up into smaller companies? Look at what a Microsoft monopoly has done to the computer industry: ie5/6/7 held back the entire development of the web because sites were catered to IE only, poor UI and design choices ever since Windows had a GUI, god criticism of Microsoft could be sold as a book like almanacs or encyclopedias were

[QUOTE=The Baconator;40244558]You do realize the same could be said about Microsoft when they got (rightfully) sued and nearly broken up into smaller companies? Look at what a Microsoft monopoly has done to the computer industry: ie5/6/7 held back the entire development of the web because sites were catered to IE only, poor UI and design choices ever since Windows had a GUI, god criticism of Microsoft could be sold as a book like almanacs or encyclopedias were[/QUOTE] Except the problem is that Android is such a large part of the market because it's the only one that's not obscenely shit, windows is the only one that can really compete with it and we'll see how that pans out as it becomes more well known and widespread. The fact that google can actually sell their phones cheaper isn't killing competition, it's the fact that no one is willing to really compete with them.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;40244302]Give me one legitimate reason why they shouldn't do that if they can afford to.[/QUOTE] Give me one good reason why microsoft couldn't have completely and utterly dominated most computer related applications, technologies and other venues back in the early 2000. You know, stuff like IE, media player, pretty predatory agreements with OEMs and other stuff. Since you know, that pretty nicely compares to this. Why couldn't they have done it, if they could have afforded it.

When Googles services and products start to be pushed on us AND really shitty then sure lets complain. There isn't something Google has offered that I've been like, "Oh jeeze, well we would have SUCH BETTER PRODUCTS if Google wasn't going around forcing their shitty shit shit at us."

[QUOTE=Squad;40244593]When Googles services and products start to be pushed on us AND really shitty then sure lets complain. There isn't something Google has offered that I've been like, "Oh jeeze, well we would have SUCH BETTER PRODUCTS if Google wasn't going around forcing their shitty shit shit at us."[/QUOTE] And aren't they? Just consider how chrome is pushed trough google sites, or how g+ is as well. I'd say what they do constitutes a lot of relatively aggressive pushing. [QUOTE=Psyke89;40244493]They can't beat them on hype, price, ecosystem or funcionality. It's easier to spread FUD and sabotage them into becoming worse, than actually becoming better. If Microsoft hadn't trojan horsed Nokia we could have had MeeGo, the N9 was ahead of it's time in terms of performance and UI, but Nokia killed it and every single OSS/Linux based project to focus on Windows Phone.[/QUOTE] Because staying on meego would have killed nokia. How do you think they'd even be able to get traction in the US without MS, get app developers even remotely interested, get a massive cash influx from MS, be able to sell navteq data to MS and much much more.

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;40244580]Except the problem is that Android is such a large part of the market because it's the only one that's not obscenely shit, windows is the only one that can really compete with it and we'll see how that pans out as it becomes more well known and widespread. The fact that google can actually sell their phones cheaper isn't killing competition, it's the fact that no one is willing to really compete with them.[/QUOTE] The same thing happened with AMD and Intel. Blackberry and Android. AMD and Intel traded back and forth, had their ups and downs. All of a sudden Intel came out with an architecture that was seemingly unbeatable, it was amazing in every since of the way. AMD basically fell off the charts and struggled to compete. Blackberry had a great market, Android came in and completely changed how people perceive phones and use their technology. Blackberry couldn't keep up and struggled and struggled. It isn't that no one is willing to compete with them, it's that, it's really hard to compete with stuff that is good. [editline]11th April 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=wraithcat;40244607]And aren't they? Just consider how chrome is pushed trough google sites, or how g+ is as well. I'd say what they do constitutes a lot of relatively aggressive pushing. Because staying on meego would have killed nokia. How do you think they'd even be able to get traction in the US without MS, get app developers even remotely interested, get a massive cash influx from MS, be able to sell navteq data to MS and much much more.[/QUOTE] I don't know what you mean by google sites. Are you saying websites run by google? I feel like they should be allowed to push their products on their websites? I may misunderstand what you mean, so I apologize in advance.

[QUOTE=Squad;40244618]The same thing happened with AMD and Intel. Blackberry and Android. AMD and Intel traded back and forth, had their ups and downs. All of a sudden Intel came out with an architecture that was seemingly unbeatable, it was amazing in every since of the way. AMD basically fell off the charts and struggled to compete. Blackberry had a great market, Android came in and completely changed how people perceive phones and use their technology. Blackberry couldn't keep up and struggled and struggled. It isn't that no one is willing to compete with them, it's that, it's really hard to compete with stuff that is good.[/QUOTE] That's my point, Google have delivered a better service than they could, why should that be compromised because their "competition" are fucking abysmal?

[QUOTE]Google achieved its dominance in the smartphone operating system market by giving Android to device-makers for ‘free.’ But in reality, Android phone makers who want to include must-have Google apps such as Maps, YouTube or Play are required to pre-load an entire suite of Google mobile services and to give them prominent default placement on the phone, the complaint says. This disadvantages other providers, and puts Google’s Android in control of consumer data on a majority of smartphones shipped today.Google’s predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google’s dominant mobile platform, the complaint says.[/QUOTE] Well Microsoft was forced into adding browserchoice.eu on Windows, I wouldn't be surprised if Google gets slammed with a similar thing. I mean if you want to use Play, you have to use a Google account, which is also used for ad targeting. And IIRC, APK installer isn't included on all default Android devices, so you're forced to use (or make) an account to at least install one thing.

[QUOTE=SGI Onyx;40244421]Firefox OS is interesting, since its webapps I can easily tweak it or fix apps when developers fuck them up with a bad interface.[/QUOTE] Ubuntu for phones also looks interesting. Even if it turns out to be shit it's good to see people trying new things

[QUOTE=Murkrow;40244642]Well Microsoft was forced into adding browserchoice.eu on Windows, I wouldn't be surprised if Google gets slammed with a similar thing. I mean if you want to use Play, you have to use a Google account, which is also used for ad targeting. And IIRC, APK installer isn't included on all default Android devices, so you're forced to use (or make) an account to at least install one thing.[/QUOTE] You can install an APK without using the Play store to download a file manager.

[QUOTE=Murkrow;40244642]Well Microsoft was forced into adding browserchoice.eu on Windows, I wouldn't be surprised if Google gets slammed with a similar thing. I mean if you want to use Play, you have to use a Google account, which is also used for ad targeting. And IIRC, APK installer isn't included on all default Android devices, so you're forced to use (or make) an account to at least install one thing.[/QUOTE] Then attack Apple as well.

[QUOTE=Murkrow;40244642]I mean if you want to use Play, you have to use a Google account, which is also used for ad targeting. And IIRC, APK installer isn't included on all default Android devices, so you're forced to use (or make) an account to at least install one thing.[/QUOTE] You could always use ADB.

[QUOTE=BreenIsALie;40244656]Ubuntu for phones also looks interesting. Even if it turns out to be shit it's good to see people trying new things[/QUOTE] Say what you will about Canonical, but Ubuntu Touch does look good. If it's as good as the presentations make it out to be when it ships on phones I'll be interested.

[QUOTE=BreenIsALie;40244656]Ubuntu for phones also looks interesting. Even if it turns out to be shit it's good to see people trying new things[/QUOTE] It has potential, but much like Google, Canonical do not take into consideration what the community wants, they have their own internal roadmap which can't be influenced. [sp]Also shuttleworth looks like a paedophile[/sp]

[QUOTE=SGI Onyx;40244709]It has potential, but much like Google, Canonical do not take into consideration what the community wants, they have their own internal roadmap which can't be influenced. [sp]Also shuttleworth looks like a paedophile[/sp][/QUOTE] [url=http://wtflinux.wordpress.com/][img]http://wtflinux.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/ubuntu-logo-operanew.png?w=438[/img][/url]

[url=http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20130409095055445]Here's a complete tear down by Groklaw.[/url] It's an interesting read and even go as far as to point out how Microsoft has been constantly raving that Linux costs more than Windows since the dawn of time, contradicting this claim.

[QUOTE=Squad;40244678]Then attack Apple as well.[/QUOTE] [url]http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consumers/contacts_en.html#1[/url]

I'm not sure how you guys are blowing this off so lightly. Google has very real potential of becoming a monopoly, doesn't pretty much every government in the world have measures in place to stop that?

[QUOTE=melonmonkey;40244797]I'm not sure how you guys are blowing this off so lightly. Google has very real potential of becoming a monopoly, doesn't pretty much every government in the world have measures in place to stop that?[/QUOTE] A monopoly on what, exactly?

[QUOTE=danharibo;40244803]A monopoly on what, exactly?[/QUOTE] Smartphones, search engine, formerly RSS readers, advertising, soon ISPs, almost everything.