While the immediate focus is on Google’s search business, the company’s dominance in the mobile ecosystem is also in question as the UK regulator widens its probe. In a separate but related investigation, the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) is deciding whether Apple and Google’s mobile platforms should also be designated with “strategic market status.”
This parallel investigation is crucial because Google’s power in search is deeply intertwined with its control over the Android mobile operating system. Android’s massive market share, combined with agreements to make Google the default search on Apple’s iOS, creates a powerful feedback loop that locks in its search dominance across both desktop and mobile devices.
If the CMA also designates Google’s mobile platform with SMS, it could unlock a new set of even more powerful remedies. For example, the regulator could impose rules on the Google Play Store to ensure fair treatment of rival apps, or it could mandate greater interoperability between Android and other services.
This two-pronged approach shows the CMA is thinking about the entire digital ecosystem, not just isolated markets. The regulator understands that to truly tackle Google’s power in search, it may also need to address its foundational strength in the mobile operating systems that put search at everyone’s fingertips.
The outcome of the mobile investigation will therefore be critical. A designation in that area would represent a far deeper intervention into Google’s business model and could lead to changes that affect every single smartphone user in the UK, creating a regulatory pincer movement on the tech giant.
