4 ms·

The real question is, has Apple sold enough tablets to be considered a monopoly in the marketplace. Even if it is a monopoly, it definitely isn't in phone (even

The real question is, has Apple sold enough tablets to be considered a monopoly in the marketplace. Even if it is a monopoly, it definitely isn't in phone (even smart-phone) marketplace, so it is unclear what exactly the DoJ could do to influence the iPhone's in-app purchase fees.

gte910h 15y ago
I think once a lawsuit counts the number of iPod Touches and iPads or the total in app purchasing revenue, or total purchasing revenu of the iOS vs Android platforms, they may still try. It's unfortunately still very lopsided.
- rbarooah 15y ago
  A monopoly is more than just having the largest market share. There has to be no viable competition. With Google and Amazon in the game that's clearly untenable.
  - gte910h 15y ago
    It's not just straight away monopolies as defined by economics that the government sues under the anti-trust act. It is a company or series of interlocked companies such that "they materially reduced competition or tended to create a monopoly in trade" So if they make an add network targeting say, shopping on their devices, they may get targeted for anti-trust suits since they have the far and away majority of control of mobile shoppers: http://gigaom.com/apple/study-apples-iphone-ipad-account-for-90-percent-of-mobile-purchases/ http://gigaom.com/apple/study-apples-iphone-ipad-account-for... The fact that iPad and iPhone apps store sales are considerably larger than Android sales is inching closer to the point where the govt can sue about that: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/ios-revenues-vs-android/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/ios-revenues-vs-andro... If there is a dip in android sales for a given year (say, due to maleware problems, version upgrades, etc), then you're quite close to the level where they could get a court to not throw the case out at the summary judgement point. Once you can get a case past there, many people will settle to avoid the costs of a case or the dangers of actually losing (which could be braking up the company). I think that the figures are still too far off on percentage of app store revenue, but don't be mistaken: Just because there is not an actual monopoly doesn't mean the gov't has no teeth to do anything to apple.

gte910h 15y ago

I think once a lawsuit counts the number of iPod Touches and iPads or the total in app purchasing revenue, or total purchasing revenu of the iOS vs Android platforms, they may still try. It's unfortunately still very lopsided.

rbarooah 15y ago
A monopoly is more than just having the largest market share. There has to be no viable competition. With Google and Amazon in the game that's clearly untenable.
- gte910h 15y ago
  It's not just straight away monopolies as defined by economics that the government sues under the anti-trust act. It is a company or series of interlocked companies such that "they materially reduced competition or tended to create a monopoly in trade" So if they make an add network targeting say, shopping on their devices, they may get targeted for anti-trust suits since they have the far and away majority of control of mobile shoppers: http://gigaom.com/apple/study-apples-iphone-ipad-account-for-90-percent-of-mobile-purchases/ http://gigaom.com/apple/study-apples-iphone-ipad-account-for... The fact that iPad and iPhone apps store sales are considerably larger than Android sales is inching closer to the point where the govt can sue about that: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/ios-revenues-vs-android/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/ios-revenues-vs-andro... If there is a dip in android sales for a given year (say, due to maleware problems, version upgrades, etc), then you're quite close to the level where they could get a court to not throw the case out at the summary judgement point. Once you can get a case past there, many people will settle to avoid the costs of a case or the dangers of actually losing (which could be braking up the company). I think that the figures are still too far off on percentage of app store revenue, but don't be mistaken: Just because there is not an actual monopoly doesn't mean the gov't has no teeth to do anything to apple.