Mexico antitrust body says Google cannot impose use of Android on mobile device manufacturers

MEXICO CITY, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Mexico’s antitrust commission said on Thursday it had resolved a case over a lack of competition in the mobile operating system market stemming from business practices related to Android.

* As part of the ruling, the commission acceptedcommitments from Google to remove contractual restrictions thathad prevented mobile device manufacturers from freely producingand distributing devices using operating systems other thanAndroid. * The decision follows similar remedies accepted byantitrust authorities in other countries over Google’s Androidcontracts, the statement said. * Device manufacturers will gain more freedom to designand sell products with alternative operating systems,potentially reducing costs tied to different technologyconfigurations. * Software developers will benefit from a more openecosystem that encourages innovation and new applications, thecommission said. * The commission said it will monitor compliance andexercise its authority in digital markets to investigatepractices that restrict consumer choice.

(Reporting by Raul Cortes and Natalia Siniawski)