Mobile browser: Examination report affects Apple and Google

Apple and Google threatens to trouble in Great Britain because of their competitive behavior at mobile browsers. Apple in particular comes in the Examination report now submitted the British Competition and Markets Authority, CMA, badly away. At the same time, further examinations for the market position of the two tech companies are underway. The iPhone manufacturer threatens sensitive punishments based on the annual turnover, which are reminiscent of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union.

Specifically, the independent examination group at Apple criticizes the exclusivity of Apple's browser engine webkit on iOS devices. Apple also prefers its own browser in the operating system, also force his browser engine on third apps and clear up supremacy by pre-installed his own browser. As early as November 2024, a market study by the CMA had come to similar results. The report has now confirmed the allegations.

High market shares in browsers

The report proves the subordinate supremacy with numbers. According to them, the market shares of Safari under iOS are 88 percent, that of Google Chrome under Android at 77 percent.

The pre -installation is also criticized in the report in the case of Google. Overall, however, the problems with the search engine provider are considered less serious. However, it is problematic that Google pays high sums to Apple so that Google is set as a standard search engine on the iPhone. This point is also the subject of antitrust proceedings against Google in the USA.

Also affected web apps

The report also has a disability of progressive web apps (PWAS). These are cheaper and easier to develop because they can run on any operating system, but according to the British app developers, they would be hindered by restrictions.

The chairwoman of the independent investigation group, Margot Daly, comes to the conclusion that “the competition between different mobile browsers does not work well and this hinders innovation in the United Kingdom”.

How Apple reacts

Apple emphasized in a statement Compared to the US portal The Vergethat it is used for “flourishing and dynamic markets” “in which innovation can thrive”. The iPhone manufacturer announced that the CMA “constructively” worked together. Nevertheless, the iPhone manufacturer tries out the arguments already from clashes with the EU Commission that data protection, security and user experience could suffer if the CMA report should lead to compulsory measures.

Apple and Google have already made it easier to switch to alternative browsers in Great Britain. With iOS 18.2, Apple introduced the opportunity to change the standard browser. However, the report calls for further changes, including the approval of alternative browser engine under iOS, as is practiced in the EU, the display of a browser selection screen in the device device and a ban on sales sharing between Apple and Google.

Further investigations are underway