Google controls 'too much' of China smartphone sector

"While the Android system is open source, the core technology and technology roadmap is strictly controlled by Google."[Photo/Agencies]?

Google Inc has too much control over China's smartphone industry via its Android mobile operating system and has discriminated against some local firms, the technology ministry said in a white paper.

The white paper, authored by the research arm of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, also said China had the ability to create its own mobile operating system.

"Our country's mobile operating system research and development is too dependent on Android," the paper said.

"While the Android system is open source, the core technology and technology roadmap is strictly controlled by Google."

The paper said Google had discriminated against some Chinese companies developing their operating systems by delaying the sharing of codes. Google had also used commercial agreements to restrain the business development of mobile devices of these companies, it added.

A Google spokesman in China declined to comment.

The ministry did not recommend any specific policies, regulatory actions or other measures.

In the third quarter last year, Android accounted for 90 percent of all mobile operating systems in China while Apple Inc's iOS system was at just 4.2 percent.