Lobby group calls Android a "Trojan Horse" for Google's dominance

A lobby group representing Microsoft and Nokia among others has filed a complaint with the European Commission describing Android as an anti-competitive "Trojan horse" strategy.

FairSearch has claimed that Android's below cost distribution strategy is a means for Google to achieve total domination of the mobile space, and makes it difficult for other OS manufacturers to recoup expenses. It also accuses Google of deceptive practices to obscure these facts.

"Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a 'Trojan Horse' to deceive partners, monopolise the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data," said Thomas Vinje, counsel to the FairSearch coalition.

"We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to protect competition and innovation in this critical market. Failure to act will only embolden Google to repeat its desktop abuses of dominance as consumers increasingly turn to a mobile platform dominated by Google's Android operating system."

A point of contention is the way that device manufacturers are required to give default placement to an entire suite of Google apps and services to get access to mainstays like Google Maps and YouTube. The complaint states that this gives Google control of data on the majority of mobile phones shipped and sold in the world today.

FairSearch is composed of 17 technology companies, including Microsoft, Nokia and Oracle. Google is also the focus of a legal investigation by six European data protection authorities over the consolidation of its privacy policies.