Apple and Google may be forced to change App Stores in UK

"The way we download apps onto our phones could be about to change after a ruling from the UK's competition regulator. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated the two tech giants as having "strategic market status" - effectively saying they have a lot of power over mobile platforms. This means Apple and Google may have to make changes, after the CMA said they "may be limiting innovation and competition"."

"The ruling has drawn fury from the tech giants, with Apple saying it risked harming consumers through "weaker privacy" and "delayed access to new features", while Google called the decision "disappointing, disproportionate and unwarranted". "We simply do not see the rationale for today's designation decision," Google competition lead Oliver Bethell said. But the CMA said it did not "find or assume wrongdoing" from the firms."

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated Apple and Google as having strategic market status for mobile platforms, browsers and operating systems. The designation reflects their dominant presence on UK mobile devices and concerns that they may be limiting innovation and competition. Apple warned the move could harm consumers through weaker privacy and delayed access to new features, while Google called the decision disappointing and disproportionate. The CMA said it did not find or assume wrongdoing and noted the app economy generates 1.5% of UK GDP and supports about 400,000 jobs. The regulator may request changes but specific measures remain undecided.

Read at www.bbc.com