The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced an investigation into the “duopoly” of Apple and Google on mobile ecosystems. The development comes just one day after a similar investigation was initiated in Japan.
The CMA will look into Apple and Google’s “effective duopoly” on the supply of operating systems, including iOS and Android, the App Store and Google Play Store, and web browsers such as Safari and Chrome.
The department defines “mobile ecosystems” as “gateways through which consumers can access a variety of products, content and services,” meaning that the investigation will cover a range of services and products.
The investigation will be wide ranging, with the watchdog concerns about the nested gateways that are created as a result of the pair’s dominance of mobile ecosystem — intermediating how consumers can access a variety of products, content and services.
It beileves that consumers could be “losing out across a wide range of areas” as a result of the purported duopoly, leading to “reduced innovation” and “consumers paying higher prices.” Further, the investigation will also examine the effect of the companies’ market power on other businesses, including app developers and advertisers.
This new development comes at a time when UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is already investigating Apple’s ‌App Store‌ policies. Market investigations can make recommendations to the government or other bodies in the UK, issue guidance to businesses and consumers, and more.
RELATED:Â
Comments