Microsoft, Nokia and others ally to sue Google over packaging its services into Android

posted by Victor H. / Apr 09, 2013, 1:48 AM

Microsoft, Nokia and others ally to sue Google over packaging its services into Android

When we hear about anti-competitive lawsuits against a corporation in Europe, that is usually Microsoft with its endless Windows browser bundling, but this time around Microsoft is the one who filed a lawsuit and the defendant is Google.

A 17-member coalition of competitor-companies including Microsoft, Nokia, Oracle, TripAdvisor and Expedia have united under the Fairsearch.org initiative to sue Google for that it “uses deceptive conduct to lockout competition in mobile.”

The coalition accuses the search company of using the free Android as a vessel to promote its search and other services (like YouTube) and lock users into them.

“Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a ‘Trojan Horse’ to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data,” the coalition’s lawyer Thomas Vinje said. “We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to protect competition and innovation in this critical market.”

The coalition has put up a website where it explains why search is important and asking the question whether Google can be trusted. The search giant has not issued an official response to the accusations yet.

source: Fairsearch via AllThingsD

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96 Comments

1. emadshiny

Posts: 1144; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

so many companies needed to pull Google down. LOL they are jealous of Google and android.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 1:51 AM 43

3. Peterwho

Posts: 3; Member since: Apr 09, 2013

microsoft = nokia = the biggest patenttroll LOL Microsoft's still a monopoly of the business. Microsoft to stop being evil, release office package for the iPad and competing platforms. It is this that makes me not like Microsoft

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 1:59 AM 34

10. samystic

Posts: 242; Member since: Mar 25, 2012

welcome to planet earth! you obviously have not heard about Apple

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:19 AM 33

13. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

A bunch of s**tty corporations, after their over price OS and office product started to be less desirable with cheaper alternative around. Instead of making their product more compelling they choose the easy route. They really learn nothing from the apple lawsuit saga.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:23 AM 13

29. Andrea

Posts: 52; Member since: Mar 07, 2013

I think Microsoft and nokia is even worce

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 3:44 AM 6

44. omar300

Posts: 210; Member since: Jun 24, 2012

Google has never locked their user :/ we can install any widget and app we like. so we can install expedia or any software. as for microsoft, i am using windows phone and there is no way to change their bing search so they shouldnt be complaining they have a permanent setting too for quick search.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 5:28 AM 10

48. buccob

Posts: 2978; Member since: Jun 19, 2012

Not only I agree with you... Google Chrome mobile even has a setting for use a different search engine like yahoo and Bing... What a bunch of whiny b****es

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 6:20 AM 9

96. shikroi

Posts: 187; Member since: Sep 24, 2012

Thats a lie you can change to google search if you want.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 8:09 PM 0

14. PhoneLuver

Posts: 481; Member since: Jul 05, 2010

I was waiting for something like this to happen. I've oten wondered why nobody takes on Apple about this. They have an extremely closed system designed to lock users in and allow little or no competitors to the built in services.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:25 AM 15

45. omar300

Posts: 210; Member since: Jun 24, 2012

i agree, customers should have option. but android is about options. look at what facebook has done to android and made facebook home, and then amazon! u cant even tell its android. customization has changed everything.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 5:31 AM 2

23. Timmehor

Posts: 599; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

I don't think large technology corporate companies have the same prejudices and personal opinions that the general public have(and annoying butthurt trolls like you). So Nokia isn't jealous, they are playing a game of business. If another business uses your patent, why wouldn't you attack them?!

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:58 AM 9

72. chaoticrazor

Posts: 2347; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

these android and google fanatics dont understand business is a different world to there little google praising garden i knew this article would have google defenders coming to big them up and say how others are just evil.....truly pathetic

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 8:38 AM 7

70. p5yb0rg unregistered

Microsoft needs to go develop some apps instead of wasting their time with this..

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 8:30 AM 2

87. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

Its amazing... Isnt Google search engine, browser available on other phones? Any browser can use Google search on the web on a phone. How in the world is that locking users into Android? If its Maps....where are the Apple and MS exclusive apps on Android? Exactly. Let MS get Office to Android...then ....maybe....they can talk. Apple? I want Siri on my Maxx HD....NOW. Right now if I wanted to use Office on a phone...I ....have ...to get a WP. MS Office might be used as much as Google search engine. I guess its fine to let MS and Apple keeps exclusive things to their platform... Why isnt there an IE for Android? Is that Google or MS doing? This is almost as stupid as MS getting in trouble for the IE desktop stuff.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 6:40 PM 0

90. microsoftnokiawin

Posts: 1268; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

microsoft has released office for IOS and Android lol you troll

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 6:51 PM 2

94. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I suggest you read more...its fundamental. MS Office has not been released yet for iOS or Android. There are Android and iOS apps they let you use, read and edit Office documents . Again......reading is fundamental.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 7:03 PM 0

95. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

If you mean Office 365....I got an email about that recently.....again I suggest you read more. http://blogs.cio.com/windows/17785/putting-microsoft-office-365-work-ios-and-android

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 7:07 PM 0

98. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Microsoft-Office-for-Android-and-iOS-coming-late-2014-Windows-RT-refresh-on-the-roadmap-too_id41754 lol@ppl not knowing how to do an internet search.... Like I said....its not out yet. No matter how much one wants to discredit, not believe the truth..

posted on Apr 11, 2013, 5:20 PM 0

2. Joshing4fun

Posts: 1249; Member since: Aug 13, 2010

What are they really hoping to win here?

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 1:53 AM 18

38. SuperNexus

Posts: 127; Member since: Jan 18, 2013

Yeap! they are thinking like that. and you know why? Because Nokia ,Microsoft and other companies are afraid of Google. So instead of offering better product they are going with Apple technique i.e sue.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 4:48 AM 6

4. pokharkarsaga

Posts: 556; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

MS & its bitch(Nokia) are jealous & trying to sue Google,instead they should focus on their own development.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 1:59 AM 20

7. Peterwho

Posts: 3; Member since: Apr 09, 2013

I think nokia is the biggest patenttroll here. I hope they cant sell their cheap plastic bricks....

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:06 AM 9

12. samystic

Posts: 242; Member since: Mar 25, 2012

your dictionary does not have the right meaning of the word 'cheap'... this 'cheap brick' can handle knives, hammers amongst others

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:20 AM 10

40. romeo1

Posts: 823; Member since: Jan 06, 2012

cheap doesn't mean weak ;)

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 5:15 AM 7

91. microsoftnokiawin

Posts: 1268; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

what's cheap about the lumia 920 ? Oh wait the nice user friendly OS get a different reasons you trolls

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 6:52 PM 1

97. romeo1

Posts: 823; Member since: Jan 06, 2012

i'm just saying that cheap doesn't mean weak as samystic tries to explain. read before you post. and yes plastic is a cheap material.

posted on Apr 11, 2013, 9:50 AM 1

5. Esf_Kid

Posts: 49; Member since: Feb 28, 2013

this is exactly like Sammy, Apple competition when Sammy is pulling ahead, Apple tries to slow it down via suing it and now that android is dominating WP tries to stop it by these ugly ways.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:00 AM 24

6. Peterwho

Posts: 3; Member since: Apr 09, 2013

This suggests that WP8 has flopped :)

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:04 AM 26

8. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

All patent trolls UNITE ... Nokia to lose more supporters after this ... WP what's that?

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:08 AM 21

11. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

What the F? Why isn't anyone mass suing Apple for all the crap they did? Instead Nokia speaks for them in court. I already lost all respect for Nokia and I didn't think I could disrespect them anymore but this does it.

posted on Apr 09, 2013, 2:19 AM 7

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