Comscore: Google and Apple control US users' usage habits through pre-installed apps

According to reports, the latest survey results show that most of the apps people use most often, whether they are Android users or iPhone users, are developed by Google or Apple. Recently, research company Comscore ranked the popularity of pre-installed apps and other third-party apps on iOS and Android phones.

The survey results show that most applications used by American mobile phone users are pre-installed by Apple or Google. The survey was commissioned by Facebook at the end of the year. As we all know, Facebook has long been a critic of Apple.

The report said that pre-installed services dominate basic services such as weather, photos and clocks, indicating that it is difficult for other applications to compete in these categories. Of course, pre-installed applications do not dominate the list 100%. For example, in the list of the most popular apps on iOS, Apple Maps and Apple Music are not on the list, while Gmail is on the list, although the ranking is not high.

The report comes at a perfect time, and perhaps one Facebook would have liked, as Apple and Google are under increasing scrutiny for favoring their own services over rivals like Spotify.

Some rivals argue that Apple and Google unfairly bundle their apps and services with their mobile operating systems, with Apple being more criticized for exercising tighter control over which apps come pre-installed on iPhones and not allowing developers to circumvent its App Store.

It is reported that US lawmakers are currently considering a series of new bills aimed at limiting the power of large technology companies, including prohibiting Apple and Google from favoring their own services.

Comscore's survey results show that in the US market, 75% of the top 20 apps on the iOS list were developed by Apple, while 60% of the top 20 apps on the Android list were developed by Google.

Facebook is the only outside developer with more than one app on the iOS list (Facebook and Instagram), and the only developer with three apps on the Android list (Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram).

Apple rejected the report's findings. An Apple spokesperson said: "This survey, funded by Facebook, is intended to give the false impression that there is little competition on the App Store. In fact, third-party apps compete with Apple apps in every category and have achieved great success."

The spokesperson also said that the survey's methodology was seriously flawed in many respects and that the results contradicted Comscore's report in April this year.

Google has yet to comment.