MILAN (Reuters) -Italy’s competition watchdog said that it had fined Google 102 million euros ($123 million) for abuse of its dominant position because of its Android cellphone operating platform and program shop Google Play.
“During android and the program shop Google Play, Google has a prominent position that permits it to command the reach program developers have on closing consumers,” the regulator said in a statement, adding that nearly three-quarters of all Italians use smartphones operating on Android.
The program said Google didn’t let JuicePass, an electric vehicle (EV) provider’s app out of Enel X, to function Android Auto — that makes it possible for programs for use while driving — limiting its usage when favoring Google Maps.
Google hasn’t been enabling the program Android Auto for a couple of decades, which might undermine Enel X’s capacity to construct a consumer base, the watchdog said.
“The disputed behavior can influence the maturation of e-mobility at a vital stage… with potential unfavorable spill-over impacts on the dispersing of electric vehicles,” the antitrust regulator stated.
Enel X is now your”e-solutions” branch of Italian utility Enel, and Juice Pass chiefly permits users to locate charging channels on maps and see their information.
In addition to this good, the regulator said it had asked Google to create JuicePass accessible on Android Auto.
Google wasn’t immediately available for comment.
($1 = 0.8264 euros)
(Reporting from Maria Pia Quaglia; Passing by Giulia Segreti and David Clarke)
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