A government panel, which consists of officials, bureaucrats
and external experts, will kick off the discussion this month as Apple’s iOS
and Google’s Android software stands at more than 90% of the Japanese
smartphone market, the paper said. The probe will include input from executives
from domestic smartphone handset makers as well as manufacturers of smart
speakers and personal computers.
The panel will evaluate business dealings in Japan and
whether they are conducted in a fair manner compared with cases overseas. The
government may step up antitrust regulations if the panel finds any issues from
the probe, the paper said.