US: Latest antitrust attack on Google slams pre-loaded Android apps

Antitrust problems for Google only seems to keep getting bigger.

Reports emerged late last week that a new class action lawsuit has been filed in the US against the conglomerate on allegations the firm “illegally monopolized” the mobile search market by pre-loading certain apps on its Android smartphones.

Applications including the YouTube and Google Play apps that automatically come on Android phones are accused of allowing Google to hamper competition by forcing phone manufacturers, including Samsung and HTC, to include certain apps on prime smartphone screen real estate.

”It’s clear that Google has not achieved this monopoly though offering a better search engine,” an attorney representing the class said, “but through its strategic, anticompetitive placement, and it doesn’t’ take a forensic economist to see that this is evidence of market manipulation.”

The suit claims Google forced smartphone makers to sign Mobile Application Distribution Agreements in secret to maintain its search engine monopoly; it has lead to an 87 percent market share for the company, the filing claims.

Consumer rights firm Hagens Berman filed the lawsuit.

Full content: Fox Business

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