After months of consideration, Britain's competition authority has now initiated a thorough inquiry into Apple and Google's market dominance with mobile browsers. In response to its June consultation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated on Tuesday that there was "substantial support" for a more thorough investigation into the matter and how iPhone manufacturer Apple limits cloud gaming through its app store.
In a statement, Sarah Cardell, interim chief executive of the CMA, said that "many UK businesses and web developers tell us they feel that they are being held back by restrictions set by Apple and Google."
If the complaints we have heard are valid, we intend to look into them and, if they are, to determine what can be done to increase competition and innovation in these fields.
Google had responded to the CMA's intentions for June by saying it would keep working with the watchdog.
To clarify how its strategy "promotes competition and choice, while ensuring that consumers' privacy and security are safeguarded," Apple said on Tuesday that it will "constructiv[ly]" interact with the CMA.
Reuters contacted Google for comment on the most recent events, but they did not react right away.
The two tech behemoths were deemed to have a "effective duopoly" on mobile ecosystems by the CMA back in June, giving them complete control over mobile operating systems, app stores, and web browsers.
After the release of a research on mobile ecosystems, CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli had said, "When it comes to how consumers use mobile phones, Apple and Google hold all the cards."
The two tech behemoths were deemed to have a "effective duopoly" on mobile ecosystems by the CMA back in June, giving them complete control over mobile operating systems, app stores, and web browsers.
The CMA has previously expressed concern that this substantially hampered the ability of other browsers to set themselves apart from Apple's Safari, for instance on aspects like speed and functionality. In response, Apple said that through its ecosystem, it has "built a secure and trustworthy experience people appreciate and a terrific financial opportunity for developers."
