Google to charge smartphone makers to use Google Play in Europe in response to antitrust ruling

Following a European Commission ruling earlier in the year that Google had exploited Android for 'very serious illegal behavior' and used its mobile operating system 'as a vehicle to cement its dominance as a search engine', the company was hit with a record €4.34 billion ($5 billion) fine. Today Google has outlined how it will respond to the European ruling, in addition to appealing against it. One of the things the company will do is to start charging smartphone makers a licensing fee to use Google Play. See also: EU hits Google with record €4.34bn fine for 'very serious illegal… [Continue Reading]