3 ms·
So you want them act as monopolists which is something HN usually is very much against. Also the threat of trying to buy a carrier out is a completely empty one
by tssva 5y ago
So you want them act as monopolists which is something HN usually is very much against. Also the threat of trying to buy a carrier out is a completely empty one and the carriers would all know it. There is no way it would pass regulatory or court review for the market leader in cell phone sales to own a major carrier.
- jkaplowitz 5y agoI agree with you that they probably wouldn't be allowed to buy a major US carrier. But they aren't a monopolist or the global market leader in cell phone sales. Even in the US where they are indeed the market leader, their percentage of sales hovers around half, well below monopoly levels.
- jacquesm 5y agoAnti trust starts when abuse of a powerful position begins. There is no threshold requiring you to be a monopolist or even a dominant player. Just that you abuse your position.
- ralph84 5y agoI wouldn't be so certain of that. Antitrust review of mergers is mainly concerned with whether the merger will reduce competition in a market. Since Apple doesn't currently operate a mobile network and none of the carriers currently manufacture phones, it would be hard to argue a merger would lessen competition. Now whether Apple shareholders want Apple operating a mobile network is a completely different question.