Koshiro - stock.adobe.comNewsCMA gets ready to take on Apple and Google over mobile browsingPreliminary investigation finds a lack of fairness and choice of mobile browsing on iOS devices like the iPhone is holding back innovationByCliff Saran,Managing EditorPublished: 22 Nov 2024 16:15 An independent inquiry into the mobile browser market has recommended that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) consider investigating Apple and Googles mobile ecosystem activities. However, the inquiry also recommended that no further action needs to be taken on cloud gaming.The provisional findings of the inquiry concluded that the mobile browser market is not working well for UK businesses and millions of individual phone users.The CMA began an investigation following its Mobile ecosystems market study in 2021, which found that Apple and Google have an effective duopoly on mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores and web browsers on mobile devices. This puts Apple and Google in a position to set the rules on how mobile browsers work on iOS and Android devices respectively.The independent inquiry reported that Apple restricts competitors from delivering new, innovative features that could benefit consumers. For instance, rival browser providers have highlighted concerns that they have been unable to offer a full range of browser features, such as faster webpage loading on iPhone.Many smaller UK app developers also told us that they would like to use progressive web apps an alternative way for businesses to provide apps to mobile users without downloading apps through an app store but this technology is not able to take off on iOS devices, said the group assessing the mobile browser market for the CMA.There is also a revenue-sharing agreement between Google and Apple, which significantly reduces the financial incentives of other browser developers offering mobile browsers on iOS.Other issues considered in the report include the way users are presented with choices about which browser they use. The inquiry provisionally found that Apple and Google have the ability to manipulate these choices to make their own browsers the clearest or easiest option. Through our investigation, we have provisionally found that competition between different mobile browsers is not working well and this is holding back innovation in the UK Margot Daly, CMAMargot Daly, chair of the CMAs independent inquiry group, said: Markets work best when rival businesses are able to develop and bring innovative options to consumers. Through our investigation, we have provisionally found that competition between different mobile browsers is not working well and this is holding back innovation in the UK.The analysis set out in this report and a range of potential interventions considered to address the market issues identified by the group merits consideration by the CMA board under its new powers, which have been specifically designed for digital markets. Under those new powers, the CMA can consider the case for designating firms with strategic market status, taking account of the interplay between the specific markets that are the subject of this market investigation and Apples and Googles wider mobile ecosystems.In the US, the Department of Justice is looking to force Google parent Alphabet to sell the Chrome browser, following a ruling in August in which the search engine giant was found to have acted in an anti-competitive manner.Read about other CMA investigationsCMA clears Google over Anthropic partnership: The UK competition watchdog has finished its initial investigation into Googles partnership with Anthropic, with no follow-up on the cards.CMA offers potential solution to Vodafone and Threes merger issues: Remedies Working Paper published by UK competition watchdog into merger of leading telcos says deal may proceed if appropriate remedies are implemented.The CMA anti-trust investigation into AWS and Microsoft explained: Everything you need to know.CMA extends investigation into anti-competitive behaviour in UK cloud market: The UK competition watchdog has secured a four-month deadline extension for its investigation into the cloud infrastructure services market.In The Current Issue:Interview: Rahul Todkar, head of data and AI, TripadvisorGartner Symposium: Why the chance of digital success is randomDownload Current IssueNTT R&D Forum 2024: New horizons for photonics-based chips, clouds & qubits CW Developer NetworkDiversity in tech: To work for all, AI needs input from all Computer Weekly Editors BlogView All Blogs