Google and the competition: Hearing in the U.S.

Google and the competition: Hearing in the U.S.

On Google on the Internet passes (almost) no way. Whether search engine, digital maps or social network - the Californian company mixes everywhere with powerful and ever ventures into new fields. The Google services are praised and admired, as well as condemned and hated. So many makes the ubiquity of the Internet giant fear. Some suspect unfair practices that Google keeps the competition small. The competition watchdog in the U.S. and Europe are alarmed. Should confirm the conjecture face penalties. Google's freedom of movement could be curtailed.

"The power of Google: service to the consumer or threat to competition," the influential competition committee U.S. Senate panel asks provocatively. Under the headline has to face the former and current Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Board on questions of politicians in Washington. In addition to Schmidt at the Wednesday (September 21, 20 German clock time) scheduled hearing, the heads of rivals have their say.

In the center is the accusation that Google's own products higher in its search results weighted than the competition. "There will always be sites that are unhappy with how they are classified," Schmidt defends itself in a statement from the U.S. policy Politico.com portal quoted previously. Google has adapted its search to the user's needs, not on the website. "If we want the consumer to come back to us, we must offer them the best possible experience." And anyway: "Everyone is free to use Google." The competition was always "just a click away."

This looks Jeremy Stoppelman, chief of the popular restaurant and shopping guide Yelp, very different. He is at loggerheads with Google because the reviews had appeared in the results of its portal of the Internet giant. "When a company controls the market, then it controls, ultimately, the decision of the consumer," quotes All Things Digital, the technology blog of the Wall Street Joural in advance from stubble Mans opinion. "When the competition really just" one click away "would be like Google suggest, why they spent so much money for it to be the default search in web browsers and on mobile phones?"

In the U.S., according to latest data by market researcher Comscore run 65 percent of search queries on Google in Europe and Germany the market share is much higher extent. The two allied pursuers Yahoo and Microsoft's Windows Live came after recent U.S. figures on just 16 percent and 15 percent. In addition, there are many specialist providers - such as Yelp in restaurants or kayak when traveling. But Google also takes more and more space: The Internet giant has recently swallowed the restaurant guide Zagat and raised their own search for cheap flights.

The competent authority U.S. Trade FTC looks at the goings on for weeks. The current study should culminate in an antitrust case, it could be dangerous. Because with the internet search Google to rake in today most of its billions in profits. The company sells ads to match the search query - possible requirements could cost the company money then. The EU Commission has already launched its own investigation late last year, after rivals complained about their view unfair business practices - including Microsoft.

The software giant was itself several times in the past come together with the cartel guards because of his widely used PC operating system Windows. The U.S. Justice Department complained in 1998, it came to a settlement. Microsoft was then up to May this year under state surveillance. "The lawsuit has weighed on Microsoft for years and allows upstarts to get to the next technology wave a foot in the door," noted Politico.com. The one who had particularly benefited, whether Google was.