Russian search engine Yandex will replace Google as the default homepage and search on devices running Windows 10 in Russia after regulatory authorities found Google in violation of Russia’s anti-monopoly laws last month.
Going Yandex will serve as the default setting on Windows 10 devices in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Turkey and several other countries in the region, Yandex announced Tuesday. In return, Yandex’s feature page will “showcase the capabilities of Windows 10, and offer people a seamless way to obtain it,” the press release said.
“Windows 10 has already proven to be a success, while demonstrating enormous growth potential, not least because of Microsoft’s willingness to cooperate with strong players in local markets,” said Yandex CEO Arkady Volozh. “The new agreement is a logical step in the development of our well-established partnership with Microsoft.”
The move comes amid a battle between Google and Russian regulatory authorities, who have found the tech giant guilty of violating the country’s anti-monopoly laws by favoring its own services on Android devices. Earlier this month, regulators gave Google a deadline of November 18 to correct infractions related to its pre-installment of certain apps on the Android operating system.
Google is facing similar investigations into its Android practices elsewhere. In April, European Union authorities charged Google with abusing its overwhelming dominance in Internet searches and opened a probe into its Android mobile system. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) followed suit in September when it opened an investigation into Google’s Android business amid allegations that the company prioritizes its own products over those of the competition.
According to Russian authorities, Google may still face penalties of between one and 15 percent of its 2014 revenue in Russia.
Filed Under: Industry regulations
