Google Rejects EU Antitrust Charges

(RTTNews) - Google has rejected the European Union allegations that it abused its market dominance of its Android mobile phone operating system.

In a blog post Thursday, Google general counsel Kent Walker said, "Android hasn't hurt competition, it's expanded it."

The company sent its reply on Thursday to anti-trust charges issued by the EU earlier this year over the smartphone platform.

Walker said, "The response we filed today shows how the Android ecosystem carefully balances the interests of users, developers, hardware makers and mobile operators."

He noted that more than 24,000 devices from over 1,300 brands ran on Android, enabling European developers to distribute their apps to over a billion people.

The European Commission sent a statement of objections to Google in April, alleging it had breached EU competition law.

Google faces a fine and could be required to change its practices if the EU rules against it.

Kent Walker said, "No manufacturer is obliged to preload any Google apps on an Android phone. But we do offer manufacturers a suite of apps so that when you buy a new phone you can access a familiar set of basic services. Android's competitors, including Apple's iPhone and Microsoft's Windows phone, not only do the same, but they allow much less choice in the apps that come with their phones."