2 ms·

I see this a few times on here about DOJ or FTC stepping on to Apple like Microsoft, and I think it's pretty off base. In order for that to happen a few things

I see this a few times on here about DOJ or FTC stepping on to Apple like Microsoft, and I think it's pretty off base. In order for that to happen a few things need to occur. First, the government needs to prove that Apple has a monopoly. Here are some numbers from NPD on smartphone marketshare domestically: https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/pr_120808/ https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/pr... Apple: 31 percent Samsung: 24 percent HTC: 15 percent Motorola: 12 percent LG: 6 percent So right there, it's a tough case to make that Apple has a dominant market monopoly as compared to Microsoft in 1998. Here's a CNET article I found quickly from 1999, one year-ish after the DOJ brought their case: http://news.cnet.com/Windows-95-remains-most-popular-operating-system/2100-1040_3-228773.html http://news.cnet.com/Windows-95-remains-most-popular-operati... Windows 95 57.4 Windows 98 17.2 Windows NT 11 Mac OS 5 DOS 3.8 Linux 2.1 Windows 3.11 1.1 Unix .8 OS/2 .5 Others 1 So at that time Windows accounted for roughly: 87% of the market! And then beyond the government determining they had a monopoly, they had to show that Microsoft was abusing it's monopoly in anticompetitive ways. They concluded they were through agreements with OEMs and others to keep other software off the machines. Basically OEMs would install Windows and IE, and not make deals to install Netscape or other software. And part of that decision also had to do with the fact that in 1998-2000 as broadband was nascent in much of the country, getting new software wasn't exactly as easy as a 5 minute or less download. And even still there are legitimate criticisms of the US DOJ case against Microsoft. Finally though, it doesn't seem to me that this could be done by DOJ/FTC at all. Apple doesn't have a market monopoly. Since it is a device that they produce hardware and software for, and have from the beginning asserted full control over the app store, and other market alternatives (often cheaper) readily exist, I wouldn't expect any action.

steve8918 14y ago
I didn't make a comment on previous behavior of Apple, or whether or not Apple has a monopoly. I was saying that Google could force Apple's hand in terms of how they behave in approving or rejecting apps, if Apple acts in an anti-competitive way with respect to a Google Maps app. If Apple doesn't play it right, it could draw the ire of the DoJ or FTC, which they definitely do not want. If they don't allow a Google Maps app on the iPhone App Store, or if they drag their heels in approving the app, especially given all the outrage from the customers, I believe this is clearly anti-competitive behavior. Once Google has one available, if Apple doesn't readily approve it, I think a very, very strong case could be made that they are holding back Google's app in order to help their App gain traction. Since only Apple has the power to approve or reject apps from the App Store, if that isn't the definition of anti-competitive, I don't know what is.
- dailyrorschach 14y ago
  Right - but my point is that simple anti-competitive behavior is not necessarily running afoul here. IT would be anti-competitive, but for the FTC to be involved the case needs to include monopoly abuse or stopping hard-driving competition. Since Google is available through Android and other competitors, and is not blocked from the web-browser, I don't think a legal case can be made. But would love opinions as to why that might not be the case. EDIT: At least in the United States, perhaps in other jurisdictions it could be an issue?
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

steve8918 14y ago

I didn't make a comment on previous behavior of Apple, or whether or not Apple has a monopoly. I was saying that Google could force Apple's hand in terms of how they behave in approving or rejecting apps, if Apple acts in an anti-competitive way with respect to a Google Maps app. If Apple doesn't play it right, it could draw the ire of the DoJ or FTC, which they definitely do not want. If they don't allow a Google Maps app on the iPhone App Store, or if they drag their heels in approving the app, especially given all the outrage from the customers, I believe this is clearly anti-competitive behavior. Once Google has one available, if Apple doesn't readily approve it, I think a very, very strong case could be made that they are holding back Google's app in order to help their App gain traction. Since only Apple has the power to approve or reject apps from the App Store, if that isn't the definition of anti-competitive, I don't know what is.

dailyrorschach 14y ago
Right - but my point is that simple anti-competitive behavior is not necessarily running afoul here. IT would be anti-competitive, but for the FTC to be involved the case needs to include monopoly abuse or stopping hard-driving competition. Since Google is available through Android and other competitors, and is not blocked from the web-browser, I don't think a legal case can be made. But would love opinions as to why that might not be the case. EDIT: At least in the United States, perhaps in other jurisdictions it could be an issue?

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]