Report : U.S. Investigates Google Over Anti-Competitive Android Practices

(RTTNews) - Google Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) is under U.S. antitrust scrutiny as officials ask whether the tech giant stifled competitors' access to its Android mobile-operating system, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The report said that the Federal Trade Commission reached an agreement with the Justice Department to spearhead an investigation of Google's Android business. FTC officials have met with technology company representatives who say Google gives priority to its own services on the Android platform, while restricting others.

The inquiry is in its early stages, and it could end without a case against the company, the report said.

The latest FTC scrutiny comes after Europe's antitrust chief challenged Google earlier this year over its dominance of Internet search. The European Union has also started its own investigation into Google's Android platform following complaints, including from a group representing Microsoft Corp., Expedia Inc. and Nokia Oyj.