EU Android probe looms

Europe's monopoly watchdogs could be on the verge of publishing a formal complaint against Google over Android's dominance on the continent.

Google's critics have been given just 24 hours to strip any sensitive business information from their submitted gripes about the mobile operating system, according to Bloomberg. These gripes are expected to form an official statement of objections about the web giant's practices. Google will be expected to act on these objections or face some consequences, just like it did with web search.

Microsoft and some of its friends have complained about the secret contracts Google has with phone and tablet makers. EU officials are looking into the all-or-nothing bundling of Google mobile services with devices, and possible exclusivity requirements that may prohibit manufacturers from producing non-Android mobes. ®