The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating whether Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has restricted its competitors' access to its Android operating system and favored its own services, according to a Bloomberg report. The report, citing unnamed sources, said the FTC reached an agreement with the Justice Department to push forward with the probe, and that FTC officials have met with technology company representatives who say Google gives priority to its own services like Search and Maps on Android, while restricting others. The inquiry is just starting and it could end without a case against the company, the report said. Spokesmen for the FTC and Google declined to comment.
In April the European Commission (EC) formally opened an investigation into whether Google violated antitrust laws through the dominant position of Android by favoring its own services. The EC is looking into whether Google has "illegally hindered the development and market access of rival mobile operating systems, mobile communication applications and services" in Europe by forcing Android device makers to exclusively pre-install Google's own applications or services. Article