Abstract
This paper examines the applicability of mobile platform neutrality. It focuses on the preloaded Google search application on Android OS platform and its effects on the fair competition and users' welfare in the mobile content/application market. The result shows that it is not appropriate to regulate tying behavior of Google and apply platform neutrality at present because mobile OS market is competitive and system competition is now in progress. The device manufacturers preload search application on Android OS under mutual contract. Users seem to be able to choose other search applications they want with Android OS. Since the mobile platform has the nature of two-sided market, it is not easy to define the relevant market. Also, it is not clear that anticompetitive effect of the tying behavior on the exclusion of competitors and the option of consumers. Google is trying to enlarge the revenue based on the network effect of mobile platform and search application. Therefore it is still necessary for government to carefully watch the change of competition level of relevant market and market share of Google's services and to establish an appropriate policy.
| Translated title of the contribution | A study on the applicability of platform neutrality for Smart Media : Focusing on the tying of Google search application with Android OS Platform |
|---|---|
| Original language | Korean |
| Pages (from-to) | 213-248 |
| Number of pages | 36 |
| Journal | 한국방송학보 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Jul 2011 |