thrang

Apple has nowhere close to monopolistic status both in terms of overall market share and with easily available alternatives from a myriad of other phone makers.

If one wants to argue that Apple has a "monopoly" over their own products and service, you are nuts.

avon b7 said:

No one has the right you are proclaiming.

Everything falls under the different treaties and laws that have been signed. 

No one is immune to that. 

Those treaties and laws are there to be followed. 

Apple and others are probably thankful they have managed to get so far unchallenged. 

Apple could probably lighten the scrutiny and investigative load by simply pulling back from offering services to the outside world. Close the platform off from external apps, bring everything in-house. 

The platform would quickly die without access to the outside world as Apple would not be able to satisfy everybody's needs. 

The solution therefore is to continue as is, but by complying with legislation. 

These situations are not really EU specific. They are being played out in various non-EU countries. 

Of course governments can pass legislation that forces companies to do things that are detrimental to their business. That's the purpose of raiding the point it is ludicrous.

Essentially, the more desired and successful something is, the more it should be hindered and dismantled?  Let the marketplace decide if a company is approaching the business the right way.

If Apple was blatantly preventing certain businesses and applications from being a consumer option (WITHOUT those options being legitimate security concerns!), then there is a point to be made for action against them. As well, to force Apple to bear the cost of a competitor to do business on their platform is of course insane at any level, especially if it risks security, reputation, or revenue/profit.

gatorguy said:

thrang said:

Once again, the stupidity of a government entity rears its head...

The success of iPhone is highly driven by the controlled ecosystem that Apple has built and its consumers desire, the very ecosystem that the governments are trying to tear down. It's ludicrous and dangerous. Apple operates in the private market, they are not a public utility or governmental agency.

It's Apple's proprietary product and related services, and they have the right to be as proprietary as they wish.

Microsoft would have loved for that to be true

If you are referring to the Internet Explorer issue with Microsoft many years ago, wasn't that MS coercing others to "not" include/support competitive browsers? That would be akin to Apple denying What's App, FB Messenger, Signal etc. from running on the iPhone, which is a very different thing and not reality.

Obviously, MS and virtually everyone else are viable businesses because they develop, own, manage and sell proprietary technology. Else what is their purpose?

Once again, the stupidity of a government entity rears its head...

The success of iPhone is highly driven by the controlled ecosystem that Apple has built and its consumers desire, the very ecosystem that the governments are trying to tear down. It's ludicrous and dangerous. Apple operates in the private market, they are not a public utility or governmental agency.

It's Apple's proprietary product and related services, and they have the right to be as proprietary as they wish. They have the right and responsibility to determine the best blend of proprietary and open standards as they see fit, measured against whatever criteria they wish, but certainly in relation to security, competitive advantage, market preference, and success. And they have the fiscal responsibility to be as profitable as possible.

The marketplace will decide if they've turned the dials correctly. And thus far, its very clear they have.

As others have posted, this seems to be more about trying to degrade the protection of end to end encryption by forcing alternative means, and/pr dismantle success to exert control.

Plenty of other messaging apps are available on the iPhone if you want them as well. 

You don't like Apple's approach? Who cares. Get an Android phone, Plenty of options.

Was it a lightning strike?