Google Inc has violated Russian antitrust laws by requiring that manufacturers pre-install its services on their devices, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service ruled on Monday.
Yandex NV, Russia's largest search engine, complained to the local antitrust authority earlier this year, requesting that its competitor be ordered to unbundle its services from the Android operating system and application distribution platform Google Play. Yandex has been losing market share to Google recently as the Mountain View, California-based rival is strongly positioned on devices running Android.
"It's a violation that Google required equipment makers to pre-install its services, including search, to get the Google Play application store on their devices," Vladimir Kudryavtsev, head of the IT department of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service, said by phone. The regulator will issue detailed instructions on remedies to Google within 10 days, Kudryavtsev said.
A Google representative said by e-mail that the company will study the watchdog's decision once it receives full instructions.
Yandex NV, Russia's largest search engine, complained to the local antitrust authority earlier this year, requesting that its competitor be ordered to unbundle its services from the Android operating system and application distribution platform Google Play. Yandex has been losing market share to Google recently as the Mountain View, California-based rival is strongly positioned on devices running Android.
"It's a violation that Google required equipment makers to pre-install its services, including search, to get the Google Play application store on their devices," Vladimir Kudryavtsev, head of the IT department of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service, said by phone. The regulator will issue detailed instructions on remedies to Google within 10 days, Kudryavtsev said.
A Google representative said by e-mail that the company will study the watchdog's decision once it receives full instructions.