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Microsoft Tells Congress That iOS App Store Is Anticompetitive:
US regulators are taking aim at big tech firms like Google, Apple, and Amazon, with the potential for antitrust cases later this year. A House committee is gearing up to question the CEOs of major technology companies, but Microsoft President Brad Smith has already chatted with the committee. Smith reportedly expressed concerns about Apple in particular, specifically when it comes to its handling of the App Store.
[...] According to Smith, the recent disagreement over the Basecamp Hey email app on iOS exemplifies the problem. The app needs a $99 annual subscription, but there was no way to purchase it in the app — users had to go to the web. That didn't please Apple, as it circumvented the 30 percent revenue charge. Apple resisted approving the app, only doing so when public pressure ramped up, and the developers added a 14-day free trial for iOS users.
[...] And that's at the heart of the antitrust probe: Is Apple harming competition with its policies now that iOS is one of two dominant mobile platforms? It might take a few years for the government to decide that one.
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Wednesday July 22 2020, @07:45PM (2 children)
"Electric vehicle chargers are only for EVs and exclude gasoline automobiles! Something must be done!"
"Gasoline refuling stations are only for gasoline autos and exclude alternately powered vehicles!"
Do you have to pay Tesla for your electricity or Honda for your gas or can you buy it from any vendor of your choice?
If Tesla did require you to buy Tesla electricity from the Tesla store I'm pretty sure people would demand something must be done.
"Honda only makes replacement parts for Honda automobiles! OMG!"
But lots of other vendors make replacement parts for Honda, and you can purchase and install them at any number of service centers not owned or operated by Honda. If Honda required you to go to the company store, buy only company parts, and have them installed exclusively by Honda... people would complain loudly. And in fact in the case of Farm equipment there is substantial unrest over this type of practice going on right now.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Wednesday July 22 2020, @08:35PM
I hear you, but if those things are allowed to be, then Apple's App Store should be allowed to be only for Apple devices.
Now that brings up something which is a subtly but importantly different thing.
Apple's App Store is the ONLY app store for Apple devices.
In other words, I don't care that Apple's app store doesn't have apps for Android. But (if I were an Apple user) I might very much care that the Apple store is the ONLY app store for my device.
Android users have other ways to load apps onto their devices. Apple users do not (as I understand it, but would be happy to be corrected).
Every performance optimization is a grate wait lifted from my shoulders.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 23 2020, @12:11AM
I have heard that you cannot buy a new complete motor from Honda to put into
a Honda car -- you must buy the parts -- that should be illegal ...