UK Launches Antitrust Probes Into Apple and Google’s Dominance in Mobile Ecosystems

CNBC
Apple and Google’s massive mobile empires face dual UK antitrust probes

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said it was opening dual probes into both U.S. tech giants to assess whether they hold “strategic market status” in their respective mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores and smartphone-based browsers. The investigations will “explore the impact on people who use mobile devices and the thousands of businesses developing innovative services or content such as apps for these devices,” the CMA said. “Apple believes in thriving and dynamic markets where innovation can flourish,” an Apple spokesperson told CNBC. “We face competition in every segment and jurisdiction where we operate, and our focus is always the trust of our users.” “In the U.K. alone, the iOS app economy supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and makes it possible for developers big and small to reach users on a trusted platform,” the Apple spokesperson added. “We will continue to engage constructively with the CMA as their work on this matter progresses.”

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CNBC
TechRadar
UK CMA opens investigations into Apple and Google mobile ecosystems

The UK government has announced the launch of two antitrust investigations into the mobile ecosystems of both Apple and Google by the country’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority.

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TechRadar
Daily Mail
UK's competition regulator to investigate Google and Apple amid concerns over their dominance of Britain's smartphone market

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether the two companies should loosen their control of the sector, potentially by allowing competitors to use their technology. Google owns Android, the operating system software that comes pre-installed on most of the UK’s smartphones, as well as the Google Play app store and the Chrome web browser. Apple, meanwhile, uses its own iOS operating system to power its iPhones, which also contain its App Store and Safari web browser software. Together, the two companies control almost every avenue through which British smartphone users access the internet through their phones as well as how the developers of phone apps market them to consumers. As a result, the CMA said it would investigate whether the two tech giants should be given ‘strategic market status’ (SMS), which would make them subject to tougher rules on how they conduct business in the UK. A company obtains SMS if its UK sales are more than £1 billion, or if it generates worldwide sales of over £25 billion, and it is considered to have a ‘substantial and entrenched’ position in the market in which it operates. Under the rules, the CMA could force Apple and Google to allow third parties greater access to the software that powers their operating systems and app stores in order to provide a wider choice of products to consumers.

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Daily Mail
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News Results

UK competition watchdog investigates Apple and Google’s mobile platforms
CMA examining impact of tech firms’ operating systems, app stores and browsers on consumers and businesses
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U.K. regulator launches second 'strategic market status' probe, targeting Apple and Google's smartphone dominance
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The U.K. has new powers vs. tech giants. It’s probing Apple and Google.
The U.K. competition regulator on Thursday said it’s using new powers to investigate Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems.
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UK watchdog announces formal investigation into Apple and Google mobile monopolies
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has formally launched an antitrust investigation into Apple and Google. This follows a previous BGR report that the UK watchdog wanted to investigate the companies for antitrust violations in the app stores and Safari/Chrome. This is the second of three investigations the CMA will conduct over the next six months.
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Apple, Google face UK investigations into mobile ecosystems By Investing.com
Britain's competition watchdog has launched twin investigations into the so-called "mobile ecosystems" of tech giants Apple and Google. The probes will assess each of these companies' positions in areas like operating systems, app stores, and browsers that operate on mobile devices. Under a law that came into effect at the start of 2025, the CMA now has greater powers to crack down on possible antitrust activity in digital markets.
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Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems investigated by competition watchdog
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UK Competition Watchdog Investigates Apple, Google’s Mobile Ecosystems
The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said it was opening probes into both firms to “determine if Apple and Google have strategic market status" The watchdog is launching the investigation as part of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, which came into force at the start of 2025.
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UK watchdog targets Apple, Google mobile ecosystems with new digital market powers
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is considering new rules for the mobile phone market. The new rules are designed to make it easier for consumers to buy and sell mobile devices. The rules will also make it harder for Apple and Google to sell their products in the UK if they don't comply.
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Google rolls out user choice billing on Google Play in the UK
Google Play users will be able to opt out of the app's billing system. The change will only be available to non-game developers. Google says that 90% of its users are happy with the way the app works. The company says that it will make changes to the system in the future.
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Judge Excludes Apple from Google Antitrust Trial with $20 Billion Search Deal at Risk
Apple's attempt to intervene in Google's antitrust trial has been denied by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The decision could have far-reaching consequences for Apple, as it puts the company’s lucrative $20 billion search placement deal with Google at risk. The antitrust penalties pending against Google would make the current deal impermissible. Throughout the case, the government emphasized the importance of default settings.
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Apple and Google Protest EU Crackdown: 'Bad for Users' and 'Hurting Consumers'
Google and Apple have both been issued with a slap on the wrist from the European Commission. The Commission issued preliminary findings following an investigation into whether Google Search favored promoting the company's own services over rivals. On both counts, the Commission said Google was failing to comply with the DMA, meaning it could be in line for a fine.
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Apple barred from Google antitrust trial, putting $20 billion search deal on the line
Apple can't participate in Google's upcoming antitrust hearing. The judges in the case say Apple simply waited too long to get involved. Apple's and Google's interests are strongly aligned here, to the tune of $20 billion. Google forks over that cash every year to secure placement as the default search provider.
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