UPDATE2: Russia’s Yandex asks antitrust to check Google

(Adds comments from Google in last two paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Feb 18 (PRIME) -- Russian Internet giant Yandex has asked the Federal Antimonopoly Service to check violations of the antimonopoly law by Google, according to Yandex’s statement seen by PRIME on Wednesday.

Yandex said that Google uses its unique position in mobile operating systems to promote services that have nothing to do with the operating system. Google owns the Android operating system, which is used by the bulk of mobile devices in the world.

Access to key components of the platform, in particular to applications store Google Play, without which it is almost impossible to sell Android-run devices, can be obtained by producers only on conditions set by Google. “As a result, Google could set any restrictions, up to a ban on cooperation with competing services,” Yandex said.

“We think that producers should have a choice: what default search will be installed on their smartphones and tablets, and what services should be pre-installed. Installation of services for users should not be linked to the provision of Google Mobile Services and Google Play. Moreover, the Google company should not ban the pre-installation of rivals’ applications,” Yandex’s PR director Ochir Mandzhikov said.

“That is why we are speaking about a necessity to split the Android operating system from the Google search engine and other user services.”

“In 2014, Google forbade pre-installation of all Yandex’ services on mobile devices of our old partners Fly, Explay and Prestigio. Chances are high that Google would continue this policy.”

The antitrust watchdog confirmed that it had received the application from Yandex. “According to the existing order, the application will be considered during no more than one month. Upon the study, we will make a decision either to open a case or to decline it,” the service’s spokesperson said.

Google said that Android users can choose services and applications by themselves, but the company declined to comment on Yandex’s claim to the antitrust service.

“We could not comment on the application that we haven’t seen. As to the Android platform, we can say that users have always a choice what applications and services to exploit on Android devices,” a Google spokesperson said.

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