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If a retail store removes a product from their shelves, you still have alternatives - selling your product in other stores, providing mail order, and so on. Wi

If a retail store removes a product from their shelves, you still have alternatives - selling your product in other stores, providing mail order, and so on. With Apple App Store, there is no alternative. Your iOS application cannot be distributed without Apple's approval.

pwinnski 6y ago
That will be the legal argument in court: is Apple's iOS like a specifically grocery chain that controls 20% of stores, and customers can easily go to another? That will be Apple's position. It seems clear that it's not, since I can easily bounce from store to store, and it's much more complicated (though by no means impossible) to switch mobile platforms. The other position also seems extreme: defining the scope of the market as "iOS users" would result in forcing Apple to make room in their store for everyone and everything, as if it weren't possible to seek alternatives at all. It's not an easy issue, but both starting positions seem extreme.
ryanlol 6y ago
> With Apple App Store, there is no alternative There is google play store, huawei app gallery, amazon app store and so on.
- elcomet 6y ago
  These are not alternatives.
  - ryanlol 6y ago
    Why not?
    - elcomet 6y ago
      I was talking about iPhone users. They have no alternative to the apple app store.
      - ryanlol 6y ago
        But there are alternatives to iPhones.
ajharrison 6y ago
Considering the fact that, you know, they built the damn thing, it's entirely up to them to decide what goes in and out.
- elcomet 6y ago
  Not if you care about fair competition, which is essential for free markets.
elcomet 6y ago
One retail stores doesn't have about 50% of market (I don't know the real numbers) like Apple does. Also, the app you built was specifically for apple. You cannot sell it anywhere else.
- ryanlol 6y ago
  > One retail stores doesn't have about 50% of market (I don't know the real numbers) like Apple does iOS market share is less than 15% > Also, the app you built was specifically for apple. You cannot sell it anywhere else. Sounds like the app developer is taking a deliberate risk while doing so. Why do they need to be protected?
  - elcomet 6y ago
    > iOS market share is less than 15% iOS has 25% share worldwide. And in the USA, where most customers will be for most startups, it has 58% market share.

pwinnski 6y ago

That will be the legal argument in court: is Apple's iOS like a specifically grocery chain that controls 20% of stores, and customers can easily go to another? That will be Apple's position. It seems clear that it's not, since I can easily bounce from store to store, and it's much more complicated (though by no means impossible) to switch mobile platforms. The other position also seems extreme: defining the scope of the market as "iOS users" would result in forcing Apple to make room in their store for everyone and everything, as if it weren't possible to seek alternatives at all. It's not an easy issue, but both starting positions seem extreme.

ryanlol 6y ago

> With Apple App Store, there is no alternative There is google play store, huawei app gallery, amazon app store and so on.

elcomet 6y ago
These are not alternatives.
- ryanlol 6y ago
  Why not?
  - elcomet 6y ago
    I was talking about iPhone users. They have no alternative to the apple app store.
    - ryanlol 6y ago
      But there are alternatives to iPhones.

ajharrison 6y ago

Considering the fact that, you know, they built the damn thing, it's entirely up to them to decide what goes in and out.

elcomet 6y ago
Not if you care about fair competition, which is essential for free markets.

elcomet 6y ago

One retail stores doesn't have about 50% of market (I don't know the real numbers) like Apple does. Also, the app you built was specifically for apple. You cannot sell it anywhere else.

ryanlol 6y ago
> One retail stores doesn't have about 50% of market (I don't know the real numbers) like Apple does iOS market share is less than 15% > Also, the app you built was specifically for apple. You cannot sell it anywhere else. Sounds like the app developer is taking a deliberate risk while doing so. Why do they need to be protected?
- elcomet 6y ago
  > iOS market share is less than 15% iOS has 25% share worldwide. And in the USA, where most customers will be for most startups, it has 58% market share.