The DMA
threshold is 45,000,000 active end users and 10,000 active business users per year [Correction: per month], in addition to turnover requirements.
The rub really is how this will be calculated. Apple will likely argue that the determinant factor should be whether people actively use the service, in which case it quite clearly shows that most Apple users in the EU probably don't use iMessage if Apple thinks it shouldn't be covered.
However, the methodology set out in the
Annex can, but doesn't necessarily mandate, such an approach. The wording of the DMA would probably also capture an approach that says as long as people are signed in, they are actively using the service. Since you have to opt out rather than opt in to iMessage there'd be a certain logic to saying that every active Apple device with iMessage turned on should count toward the cap. Apple, in turn, could easily remedy this just by making it opt in.
As a strong supporter of interoperability and someone who would like to see Apple adopt RCS or some other format to make messaging with Android using built in features more feature rich I'd obviously like to see iMessage opened up, but in fairness I think Apple has a point here and I long though that the focus (here, in MR) on iMessage as a target for the DMA was overblown.
In terms of messaging WhatsApp is the prize in the EU and, as an Apple user, it would actually be fantastic if I didn't have to install it.