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The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

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Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#31

Post by behnamoh »

wvenable wrote: post #18
spullara wrote: post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

The problem isn't how they run their store -- the problem is that they are the only store.

It's their product and they can do whatever they want with it. If anyone doesn't like that, they can easily not purchase iDevices. Apple doesn't force people to buy their products.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#32

Post by skuthus »

mostlysimilar wrote: post #8
slivanes wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"No one is forcing any company to publish into the App Store." Yes Apple is, there is no alternative to the App Store on an iPhone.

I think the point is app developers can target other platforms to release their software, they don't have to target iOS. Part of my confidence in the iOS app store is the fact that Apple controls it so strongly. If they were forced to allow third party apps I doubt I would install any. My phone is too critical a part of my life to risk it.

it would be on a different app store - you would still have full confidence if you used the Apple App Store only

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#33

Post by coldtea »

Apocryphon wrote: post #16
moralsupply wrote: post #7

The article states that Apple is extorting users. Is Apple forcing anybody to use their services?

By not allowing alternate app stores, yes.

Nobody forces anybody to buy an Apple product...

In fact, Apple charges more, so it makes it even more difficult to buy them than an Android phone -- which also has multiple app install options. Why not use that?

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#34

Post by xvector »

IshKebab wrote: post #28
moralsupply wrote: post #7

The article states that Apple is extorting users. Is Apple forcing anybody to use their services?

That's not what defines a monopoly. Ticketmaster can't just say "We're not forcing you to go to events - you could just sit at home if you want. Therefore we don't have a monopoly!" I would have thought that is obvious to be honest.

And yet no one is forcing you to buy an iPhone. Unlike Ticketmaster's shady ticket-depletion tactics, you are not out of options if you decide to get something other than an iPhone.

In fact, the vast majority of people get something other than an iPhone.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#35

Post by cwyers »

IshKebab wrote: post #28
moralsupply wrote: post #7

The article states that Apple is extorting users. Is Apple forcing anybody to use their services?

That's not what defines a monopoly. Ticketmaster can't just say "We're not forcing you to go to events - you could just sit at home if you want. Therefore we don't have a monopoly!" I would have thought that is obvious to be honest.

Except Apple isn't even the leader in marketshare in mobile devices that run apps.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#36

Post by dkobia »

spullara wrote: post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

As a consumer I love Apple's commitment to high quality apps - a side effect of their review process. As a seller on their marketplace 30% is extremely high. 30% of every sale! For context Amazons referral fee averages about 15%.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#37

Post by Ericson2314 »

simonh wrote: post #12

The only monopoly here is Apple’s monopoly on designing its own products. The iPhone, iOS, it’s development tools and the App Store are all Apple products, so Apple gets to decide what features they have. It’s also not unusual for companies to make deals with third parties to include their technology and software in their products, often as optional chargeable extras. That’s all the App Store is, it’s a way to add op…

Either the government can tell Apple how to run the App store, or the government can limit iPhones to I will say it's embarrassing that we've allowed one company's products to become such a status symbol that there is no alternative to the insecure masses, but such is the present world.

Then again, perhaps competition itself is obsolete, and we should just get on to centralized socialism already.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#38

Post by Andrew_nenakhov »

spullara wrote: post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

It's not like someone will force you paying without your consent.

If you don't want to give random apps your credit card, don't give it to them. Why do you oppose other people's right to do that, if they need it?

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#39

Post by coldtea »

IshKebab wrote: post #28
moralsupply wrote: post #7

The article states that Apple is extorting users. Is Apple forcing anybody to use their services?

That's not what defines a monopoly. Ticketmaster can't just say "We're not forcing you to go to events - you could just sit at home if you want. Therefore we don't have a monopoly!" I would have thought that is obvious to be honest.

That would be the case if Apple, like Ticketmaster, had a controlling share of the mobile OS space. They have less than 30% though...

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#40

Post by bradly »

wvenable wrote: post #18
spullara wrote: post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

The problem isn't how they run their store -- the problem is that they are the only store.

For many of us that is a feature, not a problem.
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