Authorities in South Korea have decided to drop its anti-trust investiations against american online giant, Google's Android smartphone operations in that country, according to people closer to the matter.

The investigations were launched after claims that Google was forcing its associate manufacurers to block search engine or applications that rivaled its own services. The auhtorities now believe that the company has not violated any laws in the country. Daum and NHN, two south korean search engines had filed the claims with South Korea's Fair Trade Commission in 2011 against Google.

Daum had said claimed that Google had asked Android-based phone manufacturers to restrict certain software services from appearing before Google's search tools. But, it was found that the business practices did not violate any laws in the country. Google did not offer any comments on the matter.

Google offers Android platform on an open source basis and the device manufactuere using the device have he freedom to chose their own applications and services to be included on their Android-based phones.