歐盟將對Android提起反壟斷訴訟

The EU has given its strongest signal of its intent to crack down hard on Google’s mobile operating system, comparing an imminent antitrust case against Android to Brussels’ epic confrontation with Microsoft a decade ago.

歐盟(EU)發出最強信號表示，它有意嚴厲打擊谷歌(Google)的移動操作系統，把即將針對Android提起的反壟斷案同10年前布魯塞爾與微軟(Microsoft)之間史詩般的對抗相提並論。

People involved in the case said that EU regulators were very close to opening a long-anticipated new front in their showdown with Google, already hit with charges that it abused its dominance of online searches.

參與該案的人士表示，歐盟監管機構非常接近於在和谷歌的攤牌中開闢這一預期已久的新戰線。此前，谷歌已經受到多起指控，被指濫用其在網絡搜索領域的霸主地位。

A second charge sheet, in relation to Android, is almost finalised. Margrethe Vestager, competition commissioner, will probably be ready to deliver it this week, the people said, although the timing was not confirmed.

與Android有關的第二份控罪書已接近敲定。上述人士表示，歐盟競爭事務專員瑪格麗特•維斯特格(Margrethe Vestager)很可能在本週準備好提交這份控罪書，儘管這一時機尚未得到確認。

Ms Vestager said yesterday she was concerned that Google could be unfairly taking advantage of consumers’ desire to have pre-installed apps, ready for use as soon as “we take a new smartphone out of its box”. This could stifle innovation by keeping fledgling app makers and service providers out of the market.

維斯特格昨日表示，她擔心谷歌可能在不公平地利用消費者想要擁有預裝應用的願望，以便只要“我們打開盒子取出新智能手機”就能使用。谷歌的這種做法可能會把初生的應用製作商和服務提供商排擠在市場之外，從而扼殺創新。

“Our concern is that, by requiring phonemakers and operators to preload a set of Google apps, rather than letting them decide for themselves which apps to load, Google might have cut off one of the main ways that new apps can reach customers,” she said in a speech in the Netherlands.

她在荷蘭發表的講話中表示：“我們的顧慮在於，通過要求手機制造商和運營商預裝一系列谷歌應用，而不是讓它們自己決定搭載什麼應用，谷歌或許已切斷了新應用抵達客戶的主要渠道之一。”