World’s Tech Companies Look to Brussels to Resolve Antitrust Complaints

When the European competition commissioner needs to communicate with the chairman of Google, he doesn’t have to send an emissary or even pick up the phone.Joaquín Almunia sometimes sends Eric E. Schmidt a text.Like his predecessors, Mr. Almunia has the power to block mergers or fine companies billions of dollars. But where he differs is in how comfortable he is in communicating with executives across the table — or the ocean — to negotiate settlements that avoid long battles.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/technology/eu-competition-chief-texting-with-the-enemy.html