The Competition and Markets Authority is carrying out a market study into both tech giant’s mobile ecosystems, over concerns that they hold market power which is harming users and other businesses.
The CMA says it will examine whether the firms’ “effective duopoly” over the supply of operating systems (iOS and Android), app stores (App Store and Play Store), and web browsers (Safari and Chrome), is hurting competition.
It could mean less innovation, or consumers paying higher prices for apps and mobile devices, or for other goods and services (due to higher advertising prices).
The study will look for potential sources of harm to consumers within 4 broad themes:
Theme 1: competition in the supply of mobile devices and operating systems.
Theme 2: competition in the distribution of mobile apps.
Theme 3: competition in the supply of mobile browsers and browser engines.
Theme 4: the role of Apple and Google in competition between app developers.