Italy said it discovered Google – whose Android operating system and the Google Play app store dominates the Italian market – blocked an Enel X application for electric vehicle users.
Illustration. (Source: AFP/VNA) Italy’s antitrust agency said on May 13 that it had fined Google more than 100 million euros ($120 million) for abusing its market position by removing an app. smartphone of the opponent. In a statement, Italy’s antitrust agency said it had found Google – whose Android operating system and the Google Play app store dominates the Italian market – blocking an Enel X application for users. tram . The agency requires Google to include the Enel X application in Android Auto – a smart connection system that makes it easier and safer for car occupants to use phone features. The statement stated that a fine of 102,084,433.91 euros was imposed due to Google violates article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (EU) with respect to monopoly control and matters related to restriction of competition. Italy discovered that Google had not allowed Enel X Italia to develop a version of the JuicePass app compatible with Android Auto. The JuicePass app provides services related to vehicle charging, such as finding the nearest charging station and keeping a spot at that charging station. According to the Italian antitrust agency , by not integrating the Enel X Italia app into Android Auto, Google unfairly restricted users’ access to the Enel X Italia app when they were driving and charging the vehicle. The agency stated that Google’s above action has continued for more than two years and if it continues, this could deprive the Enel X Italia of the opportunity to build a large number of users amid rising electric car sales strong. As a result, the Italian antitrust authority asked Google to include Enel X Italia and other application developers’ application programming tools in Android Auto, and the agency would monitor Google’s compliance through an independent expert with whom Google is obligated to cooperate.
You must log in to post a comment.