Britain’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has initiated an extensive investigation into the market dominance of Apple and Google’s mobile browsers. This investigation comes several months after the CMA began considering the possibility of such a probe. The CMA announced on Tuesday that responses received during its June consultation demonstrated “significant support” for a more thorough examination of the issue. This investigation will delve into how Apple, the manufacturer of the iPhone, imposes restrictions on cloud gaming via its app store.
Sarah Cardell, interim chief executive of the CMA, expressed, “Many UK businesses and web developers tell us they feel that they are being held back by restrictions set by Apple and Google.” She further stated, “We plan to investigate whether the concerns we have heard are justified and, if so, identify steps to improve competition and innovation in these sectors.”
In response to the CMA’s plans in June, Google had conveyed its intention to collaborate with the watchdog. Apple, on the other hand, stated on Tuesday that it would engage with the CMA in a “constructive” manner to clarify how its approach both promotes competition and choice while safeguarding consumers’ privacy and security.
As of now, Google has not responded to Reuters’ request for comment regarding these recent developments.
Back in June, the CMA had asserted that the two tech giants effectively held a “duopoly” in the realm of mobile ecosystems, granting them significant control over operating systems, app stores, and web browsers on mobile devices. CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli had emphasized that when it came to mobile phone usage, Apple and Google had a commanding position. This position was perceived to limit the ability of rival browsers to differentiate themselves from Apple’s Safari in areas such as speed and functionality. Apple had countered by stating that it had created a secure and trusted user experience that users love and a favorable environment for developers within its ecosystem.
