Google's boss rumbles after the EU record

Once again, the EU imposed a record fine on Google. After fined 2.4 billion euros for banning access to online shopping sites last year, Brussels has targeted the Android mobile operating system, which runs with almost nine out of ten smartphones.

Google abuses its market dominance in smartphone operating systems. The boss of Google Sundar Pichai sees after the EU decision the condition threat that the Android equipment manufacturers is offered for free.

Android is no longer free?

"Today's decision rejects the business model that supports Android – which has made more choices available to everyone," Pichai said. The free offer has helped Android to quickly conquer the smartphone market and eliminate other systems.

Android is the most used smartphone system in the world for years. Free for users, the software runs around 80% of the computer phones currently sold in Europe and around the world. This would affect hundreds of millions of users in Europe alone.

How does the Android business model work?

Google provides Android free to mobile and tablet manufacturers. According to the US company, no producer is required to install Google applications such as the Chrome browser, App Store Play, Google Maps, Gmail or Youtube. But if they want to do it, they will have to support all Google Mobile Services (GMS) programs, not just individual apps.

How badly does the EU accuse Google?

From the Commission's point of view, Google uses Android to consolidate its "dominant position" in Internet search services through "illegal practices". According to the US group as a condition for the licensing of the Google Play App Store by manufacturers manufacturers, Google search and Chrome preinstalled on their devices. In addition, Google made payments to leading device manufacturers and mobile network operators who only preinstalled the Google Search app on their devices.

Why does pre-installation pose a problem?

European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager Although not ruled out, install later other programs. A survey showed, however, that it was only one percent of users in the search and ten percent in the browser. This would give competing product suppliers in this area a small chance on Android devices.

What is the Commission complaining about again?

She accuses Google of preventing manufacturers who wanted to pre-install applications from the US group, "even sell a single smart mobile device running an alternative version, non-Google Android". Specifically, Vestager calls the developed by Amazon Android Fire OS version. Google's behavior has prevented "a number of major manufacturers" from developing and selling devices in operation.

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did Brussels impose the maximum penalty?

The maximum is 10% of annual world sales. In the case of Google's parent alphabet, it stood at 110.9 billion dollars last year (94.7 billion euros) – the maximum sentence would have been Just under 9.5 billion euros. The penalties are set at approximately 46% of the amount

Should Google stop the practice criticized?

Yes. The Commission gave the company 90 days to do it. Otherwise threatened beyond the fine beyond "penalties up to five percent of the global average daily business figure" from the Google Alphabet parent company.

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Google against the resolution?

Yes. A Google spokesman announced this quickly. Android has created "more choice for all, not less" and provided "low prices" and "strong competition". Google must appeal to the court of the European Union. These procedures take at least a year and a half. After a first instance decision, a revision before the Court of Justice of the European Communities (CJEU) would be possible again

Who would receive the billions of fine?

EU Member States. You will receive a share according to the distribution key for EU membership fees. In Germany, this represents about 21%. Berlin would get Google's penalty around 900 million euros. This can be time consuming because of the attractiveness of American society. Google must already transfer money to a secure account. The punishment therefore has a direct effect on the balance of the alphabet.

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