Google lets android users choose browsers to ease EU antitrust considerations

Users of android devices will be ready to choose their browsers and search engines from 5 options starting on thursday. The new options can appear on each existing and new android phones in Europe.

Users of robot devices are going to be able to opt for their browsers and search engines from 5 options beginning on thursday, a senior Google executive said, in a very move aimed at addressing EU antitrust concerns and staving off fresh sanctions.

Hit with a record four.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine last year for using the market power of its mobile software system to block rivals in areas like internet browsing, Alphabet unit Google was also ordered to return up with a proposal to convey its rivals a good chance.

The European Commission same Google had an unfair advantage by pre-installing its Chrome browser and Google search app on android smartphones and notebooks.

The company last month same it'd let android users choose their browser and search engine however did not offer details.

Android users in Europe who open Google's app store Google Play can currently see new screens with an choice to transfer totally different search apps and browsers, Paul Gennai, its product management director, said in a blog.

"Two screens can surface: one for search apps and another for browsers, every containing a total of 5 apps, including any that are already installed," he said.

The 5 apps are chosen supported their popularity, that is determined based on business data and the range of downloads in every country. they'll then be listed in a random order.

"Where a user downloads a search app from the screen, we'll also ask them whether they want to change Chrome's default search engine the next time they open Chrome," Gennai said.

The new choices can appear on each existing and new humanoid phones in Europe.

Google faces a fine up to 5 of Alphabet's average daily worldwide turnover if it fails to comply with the EU order to prevent anti-competitive practices.

Lobbying group FairSearch whose android complaint triggered the EU investigation urged regulators to take a tougher line.

"Fairsearch rejects as insufficient Google's launch today of a choice screen for android because it does nothing to correct the central problem that Googl