I’m not usually pro-corporation but I’m a little puzzled how you can have a monopoly on your own product—isn’t that kind of what capitalism is about?
I’m puzzled as to what the end-game is here?
Are all businesses required to give competitors access? What about Microsoft? Or are they not a “monopoly” because they run on other companies hardware?
Justice has a very weird and confusing case that really doesn’t fit the concept of monopoly.
https://moneywise.com/news/sen-elizabeth-warren-calls-out-apple-for-dirty-tactics
@feloneouscat Since Apple controls a major portion of telecommunications through their platform, and that telecommunications is part of general communications systems that are legally required to interoperate, when Apple prevents other services from using all features or accessing their phones, they're using monopoly tactics to push people into abandoning competitors.
They're unfairly using market control on something meant to be interoperable for the community.
And yet they do interoperable.
As for the “general communications” attempt, we can agree that no phone manufacturer HAS to have text communication, correct? In fact, there are many phones (aka dumb phones) that have ZERO ability to text.
Is the argument that ALL communications (I.e FB, et Al) are required by law to have APIs?)
As an engineer for over 40 years, I’m anxious to see that law.
I’m at a loss as Microsoft and Google (aka Android) has faced no such pressure.
Having a “monopoly” on the product you make is not illegal.
This is merely a bogus argument. Apple has not prevented anyone from making an app to communicate. I do so all the time with FB messenger.
@feloneouscat Actually, Tesla agreed to a deal where their charging stations would be Tesla-only at first, but would then have to be opened up to other vehicles (with an adapter).
Similarly, power and communication lines, even if put in for one company (and partly because they get tax dollars and tax breaks for this), have to be able to be usable and interoperable by other operators in the power or communications grid.
@feloneouscat
None of this is new stuff just for picking on Apple. Some of the technical specifics are a little new, but there is existing law and precedent for limiting these types of activities.
We've just had poor antitrust enforcement for decades. Since Reagan, really.
I think there is a misunderstanding going on here.
Antitrust is preventing others from entering the market (Bell telephone is an excellent example). The controlled everything from the phones to the lines. Vertical integration that limited others from entering the market (stringing identical phone lines for multiple phone companies?)
That is monopoly.
No one cares when Apple was a niche computer company; when iPhone was a new thing.
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