Google Faces Korean Antitrust Probe Over Android Auto

The South Korean government has started looking into an allegation that Google restricted applications downloaded from other app stores from accessing Android Auto, reported The Korean Herald.

According to the industry and government sources Sunday, the Korea Communications Commission has recently opened a probe to see if Google has violated the Telecommunications Business Act here.

“The commission would see if Google has unfairly limited end users’ access to third-party apps downloaded via other app store platforms,” an official from the Korea Communications Commission said. The official added that the commission could expand the investigation, depending on the findings of its probe.

Google’s Android Auto, which is installed in many of the popular cars from Hyundai Motor, Kia and Renault Samsung, does not allow applications downloaded via app store platforms other than its own Google Play, including SK Telecom’s One Store and Samsung’s Galaxy Store.

The country’s top mobile navigation system T map, for example, is currently downloadable both on Google Play and One Store. But, the application does not function on Android Auto when the application has been downloaded via One Store. The same issue occurs for other applications developed for in-car use.

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