When it comes to processors designed for mobile devices, you would be hardpressed to find a smartphone or tablet that was not powered by one of Qualcomm’s chipsets. The company has created chipsets for low-end devices, mid-range, and of course high-end flagships handsets, so safe to say that they are dominating the mobile market.However it seems that with the domination comes close scrutiny by the regulatory bodies, and recently the company has found themselves part of an EU investigation over the possibility of antitrust violations. Now it should be noted that the EU has not formally charged Qualcomm with anything yet, but rather this is a gathering of facts, as noted in a statement released by Qualcomm.
According to Qualcomm, “This step allows investigators to gather additional facts, but it represents neither an expression by the Commission on the merits of the case nor an accusation against the Company. While we were disappointed to hear this, we have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with the Commission, and we continue to believe that any concerns are without merit.”
Apparently it seems that some have alleged that Qualcomm has abused their power and dominance in the industry to undercut rivals, thus forcing them out of the market. There will be two investigations launched. The first will look to see if the company has offered any financial incentives to customers to make them choose to use Qualcomm’s products, and the other will look into 3G/4G technology.