Google and Apple are the first companies investigated for potential Strategic Market Status under the new U.K. Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.

Britain launched an investigation into Apple and Google's smartphone operating systems, app stores and browsers on Thursday, its second use of recently bulked up regulatory powers to scrutinise big tech companies.

The U.K.'s CMA is launching so-called "strategic market status" (SMS) investigations into the mobile ecosystems of Apple and Google.