Britain's antitrust watchdog on Wednesday targeted Google and Apple for their "strategic" roles in mobile ecosystems, opening the door for regulators to impose changes to their business practices to improve competition.The Competition and Markets Authority escalated scrutiny of the two US tech companies by labeling them with "strategic market status." "Following the CMA's decision today, our mobile business in the UK faces a set of new - and, as of yet, uncertain - rules," said Oliver Bethell, senior competition director at Google. "The CMA's next steps will be crucial if the UK's digital markets regime is to meet its promise of being pro-growth and pro-innovation. "Google was already given the "strategic market status" designation earlier this month, when the CMA wielded its new powers for the first time by targeting the company's role in a separate investigation into the online search advertising market.The CMA says being labeled with "strategic market status" doesn't imply any wrongdoing. But it means the watchdog has the power to use targeted measures to open up competition and ensure consumers and businesses are treated fairly.The watchdog has said Apple and Google hold an "effective duopoly," with 90-100% of mobile devices in Britain running on either mobile platform.
