UK CMA names Google and Apple mobile platforms strategic markets

Britain's competition regulator on Wednesday designated the mobile platforms of Google and Apple as holding strategic market status, giving the regulator broad power to impose rules designed to boost competition in the UK mobile ecosystem. The Competition and Markets Authority said the move, made under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, covers the companies' operating systems, app stores and mobile browsers and will allow the CMA to consult on targeted interventions to open those platforms to rivals.

The CMA said the designation reflects the firms' substantial and entrenched market power and meets thresholds for size and influence under the new regime. The regulator cited findings that roughly 90 to 100 percent of mobile devices in the UK run on either Android or iOS and identified concerns that platform rules may be limiting innovation and competition for businesses and consumers. Specific issues flagged in CMA work include unpredictable app review processes, inconsistent app-store search rankings and commission fees on in-app purchases of up to 30 percent.

For Google, the CMA specifically included Android, the Play Store, Chrome and the Blink browser engine in...