Summary:
- A U.S. judge has ordered Google to open its Android app store to rival app stores and payment systems, dealing a major blow to the tech giant's control over its mobile ecosystem.
- The ruling comes as part of an antitrust lawsuit filed by app developer Epic Games, which accused Google of monopolistic practices in the distribution of apps and in-app payments on Android devices.
- The judge's decision requires Google to allow developers to use alternative in-app payment systems and to allow users to download apps from third-party app stores, potentially opening up the Android platform to more competition.