Paranoid about Android

8 April 2011 By Robert Cyran Follow @rob_cyran

Allowing the Internet giant to buy ITA Software, with a few restrictions, is a mere sideshow. Online travel is small beer compared to control of search and mobile operating systems. The multibilliondollar question still to be answered is whether Google is an abusive monopoly.

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After a ninemonth review, the U.S. Department of Justice has allowed Google to buy ITA Software, which powers many online travel and ticketing sites, with certain conditions. The $187 billion Internet search company must develop ITA's products, license them to rivals and place firewalls on client data. The agreement also requires mandatory arbitration and a formal system of reporting complaints.

Separately, the European Commission is investigating Google's competitive practices. Microsoft filed a formal complaint with European regulators last week. U.S. regulators are also mulling an investigation of Google's search practices, a source told Reuters.

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