FTC to launch probe of Apple’s mobile business

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is set to launch an investigation to determine if Apple’s business practices in the mobile space are unjustly limiting competition, according to a new report. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reports that the investigation is the result of “weeks” of negotiations with the Justice Department over which body would look into allegations that companies are being shut-out of Apple’s newest computing platforms. It cites as examples Apple’s ongoing feud with Adobe over Flash on the iOS, Google’s complaints relating to Apple’s decision to effectively bar AdMob from its iOS devices, and it position on cross-platform development solutions. According to the report, this new investigation may be handled independently of other probes of Apple’s business, including the Justice Department’s probe into Apple’s digital music and media business.