Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Microsoft blasts Google... yet again

By: Michael Liedtke

Posted: 01/3/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft began the new year harping on a favourite theme: The software maker is arguing government regulators need to crack down on Google to preserve fair competition in the Internet and smartphone markets.

The latest refrain came Wednesday in a blog post by Dave Heiner, Microsoft's deputy general counsel. His attack amounted to a last-ditch appeal to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission as they wrap up wide-ranging investigations into Google's business practices.

Resolutions to those probes are expected early this year, perhaps within the next week at the FTC.

Microsoft fears Google, perhaps its biggest nemesis, will emerge from the antitrust probes without being required to make significant changes.

"Hopefully, Google will wake up to a New Year with a resolution to change its ways and start to conform with the antitrust laws," Heiner wrote. "If not, then 2013 hopefully will be the year when antitrust enforcers display the resolve that Google continues to lack."

For the past two years, Microsoft has been among the companies marshalling a campaign aimed at persuading regulators to force Google to changes its ways. Among other things, regulators have been looking into allegations Google has been highlighting its own services in its influential search results while burying links to competing sites.

The investigations also have delved into the way prices are set in Google's digital advertising system, the Internet's biggest marketing vehicle, and examined whether Google has been refusing to license key patents to mobile devices vying against gadgets powered by Google's free Android software.

Heiner mostly rehashed complaints that cast Google as a conniving company that abuses its dominance of Internet search, as well as its leadership in online video and smartphones, to thwart its rivals to the detriment of consumers.

Google Inc. has steadfastly maintained it hasn't done anything wrong while trying to give people better access to the information and other services they want.

In an attempt to make his case, Heiner focused on previously aired allegations that Google has cut off Microsoft Corp. from the data it needs to improve the YouTube viewing experience of Windows smartphones users.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, hasn't designed a Windows Phone application for its popular video service. Microsoft views the snub as a calculated attempt to lessen the appeal of Windows Phones as they try to challenge Apple Inc.'s pioneering iPhone and the wide array of smartphones relying on Android.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 3, 2013 B8

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.