Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The antitrust season is in full swing in 2024 . This time around , Apple is in the hybridization - pilus of regulators , bringing back retentivity of the historic Microsoft antitrust case that stretch over two 10 ago . Back then , the focus was on Windows and World Wide Web browsers . In Apple ’s character , the iPhone is the centrepiece , with a wide ecosystem waver around it .
Experts say the case against Apple , which dives deep into monopolistic conduct , is astonishingly strong . The Department of Justice , in its lawsuit , has point everything fromthe iMessage “ green bubble ” messand Apple Watch incompatibility situation to the locked app ecosystem and objectionable practice that Apple has put in place to maintain its allege monopoly .
Apple , on the other handwriting , says the lawsuit take the facts wrong . “ We will vigorously support against it , ” says the company in a statement share with Digital Trends . We wo n’t expect any less from Apple . But the charges leveled against Apple covering fire over a 10 ’s worth of merchandise policy — and are extremely comprehensive in nature .
The 88 - Sir Frederick Handley Page sound written document is surprisingly well-heeled to digest even for an average person , which is a clear sign that the DOJ really want it to be an exposed book for everyone interested , especially the installed substructure of over two billion active drug user . Here ’s a breakdown of the substance issue and Apple ’s own takedown for each one :
The Apple Watch situation
“ Apple uses smartwatches , a pricey accessory , to prevent iPhone customers from choosing other phones , ” say the cause . And it ’s not just about the iPhone being required for using an Apple Watch , but also limiting some key features if you pair another brand ’s smartwatch to your iPhone .
What objection does the lawsuit raise ? A want of a persistent connexion between the iPhone and watch , forcing background signal refresh to keep workout data synced . It also calls out responsive apprisal for third - company smartwatches and the degradation of the cellular connectivity lane by force users to disenable iMessage ( which in itself is a lock - in feature film )
Apple’s response:
orchard apple tree counters this by claim that it has drop sentence and resourcefulness help other brand to leverage its APIs ( the construction blocks behind feature ) to use their smartwatches with an iPhone , but wo n’t say if it will plow the DOJ ’s queries specifically . Apple also touches upon the DOJ passport of make a smartwatch place at Android users , which , interestingly , the fellowship prosecute .
The party read that after dedicating three years to the pursuit of possibly creating an Apple Watch that Android users could call their own , it made the executive decisiveness not to craft a lesser variant of its smartwatch . Apple says the prospect of technical constraint that might lour its privacy and security standard did n’t model well internally .
However , Apple ’s counter still does n’t answer the DOJ ’s objection in full . Today , it ’s smartwatches – and shortly , overbold rings , too – that will be fascinate up in the par . The heavy query is whether Apple will finally allow characteristic parity between Apple Watch and third - party smartwatches . Likely , no . Can the regulatory pressure effect a course reversal ? perchance , but it could be a while before that happens .
Super apps
Super apps , or everything apps , are fair democratic in Asia . Take , for exemplar , WeChat . It allows everything from message and societal media to nutrient legal transfer , online banking , shopping , and even divorcement filing . The DOJ lawsuit says Apple kept developers from offering such apps in the U.S. market because doing so would lower the “ stickiness ” of iPhones , specially if the same app could also be accessed on Android .
“ Apple created , strategically broadened , and aggressively enforced its App Store Guidelines to effectively lug apps from host mini programs , ” sound out the executive law enforcement agency . It adds that Apple reduced the bonus for offering tiptop apps by using tactics like downgrade the UI lineament and putting in limitations like API access , despite knowing that such apps are more convenient for substance abuser as they slenderize the essence of using multiple apps .
After all , if there are 100 taxi apps give an App Store fee , why let them all live as a miniskirt - program in a individual super app and reduce the gross ? Moreover , if these mini - programs take users to a web port for payment , Apple will be further deprived of the cut it train when apps practice the App Store ’s payment pipeline .
In a extended response portion out with Digital Trends , Apple say super apps already exist on the App Store – citing the instance of WeChat in China and Tata ’s Neu in India – add that crack apps are just not popular in the U.S. Even WhatsApp is turning into one . Aside from message , it now earmark broadcasts , community , digital payment , create virtual storefronts , automated customer responses , catalogue creation , integration with Meta ads , and more .
Then there ’s the privacy aspect . Apple says without the super app safe-conduct in place , user would find themselves submitting an entire cosmos of personal data to a solitary app that miraculously manages everything from managing your cash in hand to think about your kids . Let substance abuser make that conclusion for themselves . But we also live in an more and more scam - prostrate AI - force world that keep evolving . So there ’s that .
iMessage
A lot has been pen about how the iMessage lock - in has thrived over the years , and expectedly , the DOJ shed light on that . But it sheds light on how Apple restrain some features , such as tv camera preview for incoming calls . The case also namedrops the green - depressed message bubble wars that have stirred “ social imperativeness ” and how Apple blocked close - to - end encryption for messages between Apple Messages and Android users .
The lawsuit also point at public and internal statements from top Apple executive director regarding the ecosystem benefits of iMessage and how “ moving iMessage to Android will bruise us more than help oneself us . ” Also , the recent shutdown ofBeeper , which aimed to bridge over the iMessage bubble disconnection between iPhones and Androids , is a great face study .
Apple say if it open iMessage to non - Apple smartphones , it wo n’t be able to offer the security pledge that meets its standard , and the same apply to features . On the inquiry of third - party electronic messaging platform , the company says user already have a wide range of a function of choices to pick from , admit WhatsApp , Instagram , and Snapchat .
But the biggest interrogative is the message experience . Apple has already pull toRCS(Rich Communication Services ) , and according to Google , it will be implemented in the fall of 2024 . Will the green bubble ignominy go ? Likely no . Will it fully solve the iOS - Android group texting woes ? That remains to be seen . But feature film parity bit will finally be here , or at least part , enabling features like read receipts , high - quality media exchange , reactions , and more .
Apple Pay and Wallet
The DOJ targets Apple ’s financial products on the following cause :
Malus pumila forestall that its requital system and wallet app already face tight competition , but more than that , the company is concerned with the privateness and security aspects . Apple says it ca n’t ensure that another company ’s security methods are as serious as its own . Moreover , if there ’s a security problem with another company ’s gimmick , it could extend to iPhone user ’ messages getting leaked , leaving them vulnerable to scam and spam .
On the topic of NFC access , Apple says it is unfold dab - to - compensate for other apps in Europe , but adds that it ’s still concerned about certificate . That begs the interrogative : Why not do the same in the U.S. ? It ’s potential if we wait at the contender , but making Apple follow suit in its home base market wo n’t be a cakewalk .
Apple is ready for a fight
The form of reforms that the Department of Justice seeks are almost existential in nature . The suit repeatedly name “ stickiness , ” and for good reasons . The iPhone is not like any other Android smartphone out there . It ’s an inbuilt part of an ecosystem that cover everything from smartwatches to digital payments . pull Apple to make some fundamental change wo n’t be light and could be a long - thread - out challenge that can take years to abide yield .
As for Apple , it will certainly reason that it keep innovate and formulate features after spending years and millions of dollars in research . If the company ca n’t offer it to exploiter so that it can get a competitive border , where do fair marketplace Pentateuch sit in that billet ?
The DOJ ’s disceptation are substantial , but so is Apple ’s clout . What is needed here is nuance and consideration , keep consumer interest as the top precedence . But when there are billions of dollars at stake and subjectively compressed competition , nuance go for a flip in het up courtroom commutation .
