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The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority has extended the timeline for its tentative review proceedings on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) unit Google’s conduct in relation to distribution of apps on their respective app stores.
The U.K.’s antitrust watchdog said it needed more time to investigate Apple’s conduct in relation to the distribution of apps on iOS and iPadOS devices in the country, mainly the terms governing app developers’ access to Apple’s App Store. Thus, the review has been extended to August 2024 from June.
Earlier this week, the European Commission informed Apple of its preliminary view that App Store rules breached the EU’s Digital Markets Act, or DMA, as they prevent app developers from steering consumers to alternative channels for offers and content.
Separately, the agency has also been probing Google’s conduct related to distribution of apps on Android devices in the U.K., in particular Google Play’s rules which oblige certain app developers to use Google Play’s own billing system for in-app purchases.
The CMA noted that its consideration of representations received in response to the consultation on commitments has been extended to August from June, as it needed more time.
In March, The European Commission launched a non-compliance probe against Apple Google and Meta Platforms (META) for potential violations under the DMA. The agency opened proceedings against Alphabet, to check if the company’s display of Google search results may lead to self-preferencing in relation to Google’s vertical search services (such as Google Shopping, Google Flights, Google Hotels) over similar rival services.