歐盟爲何要和谷歌撕到底

The EU is poised to open a new front in its showdown with Google as early as today by announcing formal charges in relation to the company’s mobile operating system, Android. The case would represent a new chapter in Brussels’ efforts to combat the alleged abuses of US technology companies, and has already drawn comparisons to its clash with Microsoft a decade ago.

歐盟(EU)於週三在與谷歌(Google)的較量中開闢一條新的戰線，宣佈與谷歌移動操作系統安卓(Android)相關的正式指控。此案將代表歐盟打擊美國科技公司所謂過分行爲的努力的一個新篇章，並且外界已將此案與歐盟10年前與微軟(Microsoft)的交鋒進行比較。

Hasn’t the EU already charged Google with anti-competitive behaviour?

歐盟不是已經指控過谷歌存在反競爭行爲了嗎？

Yes, this would be a second charge sheet, known as a statement of objections. The first accused Google of abusing its dominance of online search to promote its own shopping services unfairly. Google denies the charge.

是的，這將是第二份起訴書（也就是“異議聲明”）。第一份起訴書指控谷歌濫用其在網絡搜索領域的主導地位，不公平地推廣自己的購物服務。谷歌否認這一指控。

How dominant is Android as the operating system on smartphones?

作爲智能手機操作系統，安卓在多大程度上佔據主導地位？

Very. More than 80 per cent of smartphones globally use Android’s open-source system, which can be used free of charge by anyone. By contrast, Apple’s own iOS operating system represents only about 13 per cent of the market, according to data from Gartner.

極大。全球超過80%的智能手機採用安卓的開放源系統，這一系統可供所有人免費使用。相比之下，根據高德納(Gartner)的數據，蘋果(Apple)自己的iOS操作系統僅佔約13%的市場份額。

Is being so dominant illegal?

佔據如此主導地位是否非法？

No, but EU rules mean that Google faces special requirements not to crush new market entrants.

答案是否定的，但歐盟的規定意味着，谷歌面臨着不能壓制市場新進者的特殊要求。

Why does the commission think Google could be harming other companies?

歐盟委員會爲何認爲谷歌可能在損害其他公司的利益？

Margrethe Vestager, competition commissioner, says she is concerned that Google is forcing phonemakers and operators to enter into contracts that preload Google apps on to smartphones. This means that Google could be stifling smaller, innovative app makers and service providers.

歐盟競爭事務專員瑪格麗特•維斯特格(Margrethe Vestager)表示，她擔心，谷歌正迫使手機制造商和運營商簽訂在智能手機上預裝谷歌應用的協議。這意味着，谷歌可能在扼殺規模較小的創新型應用製造商和服務供應商。

Wasn’t this problem of pre-installed software at the heart of EU’s epic Microsoft case?

歐盟與微軟當年那場歷史性訴訟案的核心問題不就是預裝軟件問題嗎？