Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Asks Judge to Dismiss App Store Monopoly Lawsuit

This is a stupid case. Android users have the option to use third-party places to buy stuff, but a majority of them don't (I'm one of them). And honestly, it doesn't give developers a fair advantage when you can only find one app in one place and not the others.

Most consumers don't want to have to deal with adding an additional store app to their device. The only one which has really succeeded is Amazon's Appstore, but the only reason I use it is because I had a Kindle Fire and bought a lot of apps through it and need it so I can load those apps on my S2. Also for free app of the day. GetJar is a close second.
 
I think people are missing the point. Its not about your option to buy another phone but when one vendor holds a very high percentage of a marketshare then he has a monopoly and can not force practices to exclude other competitors.

Microsoft has been fined big times in Europe today for not providing other internet browsers with their operational system.

Microsoft decided it is not disputing, will pay the fine and apologized and committed to fix the mistake.

Microsoft only holds 29.x% of internet browser and Apple holds way more then this on phone in North America so clearly Apple has a monopoly which is by customer choice but still can not force competitors out of its platform.

If the lawsuit was filed in Europe Apple I'm sure would have a much higher chances to lose.
 
Northgrove said:
There are good technical reasons to why I think this should be OK.

Apple should ask how they are supposed to guarantee the quality, software and security-wise, of the apps in the App Store and thus protect their brand value if they are no longer in control of the apps sold.

Apple is a company that really consider the software a part of the product.
Click to expand...

Apple could still require that all apps be quailty checked by Apple then allow the developer to shop their app to various stores for best price or profit.
But no, Apple wants it all.
 
twigman08 said:
What's the difference between what Apple has the 360 Arcade or Playstation Network? If I want to develop for those systems I MUST be a registered developer and more than likely a legal company. Oh they can also deny my game being published on that system. Oh users also only have one choice. If I don't like the price of the game on the Arcade store I can't go get it anywhere else. If we aren't allowed to use "go to Android" as an excuse then you can use "go to PS3 as an excuse." I don't see the difference at all, more than likely because their is no difference.
Click to expand...

Not the same. With Xbox and PS you can buy games from a variety of retailers.
 
gotluck said:
This is likely the best argument against forcing apple to open up. However, everyone knows PS3 and XBOX are not general computing devices. iPhones and iPads are general computing devices though and IMO should be treated like PCs.
Click to expand...

It's an interesting situation. I would say that phones were not general devices, but are becoming that. Maybe the reality of Apple's world should change.

That said, I already have 2 appstores on my iPhone, one of which allows for expandable repository access.
 
JAT said:
It's an interesting situation. I would say that phones were not general devices, but are becoming that. Maybe the reality of Apple's world should change.

That said, I already have 2 appstores on my iPhone, one of which allows for expandable repository access.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but I'm sick of waiting for hacks. I want it to work out of the box on day 1 :p
 
Last edited:
wilycoder said:
Amazon's app store is an alternative to the google play app store.

What is the alternative to the Apple app store? There isnt one. Cydia does not count, jailbreaking should not be required just to install apps from 3rd parties. Jailbreaking exploits security vulnerabilities in the OS, who knows if the jailbreak autoinstalls some malicious software in the process.

Its my phone, MINE, NOT APPLE'S. I should be FREE to do what I want with MY phone.

Apple's tight grip will just let more star systems slip through their fingers.
Click to expand...

You own the phone, but not the software on the phone. You LICENSE the software and are not free to do what you want with it, but only what your license allows.
 
reefoid said:
Not the same. With Xbox and PS you can buy games from a variety of retailers.
Click to expand...


Not on the arcade store? Please tell me where else on the 360 I can buy games on the Arcade store? I must log onto X Box Live and browse the Arcade section and buy? If you would had read my post you would had saw that.
 
shaunp said:
They do know that having an iphone isn't compulsory, don't they? Other phones are available and they are free to choose one of those. Muppets!
Click to expand...

I think people are missing the point. Its not about your option to buy another phone but when one vendor holds a very high percentage of a marketshare then he has a monopoly and can not force practices to exclude other competitors.

Microsoft has been fined big times in Europe today for not providing other internet browsers with their operational system.

Microsoft decided it is not disputing, will pay the fine and apologized and committed to fix the mistake.

Microsoft only holds 29.x% of internet browser and Apple holds way more then this on phone in North America so clearly Apple has a monopoly which is by customer choice but still can not force competitors out of its platform.

If the lawsuit was filed in Europe Apple I'm sure would have a much higher chances to lose.
 
frviana said:
I think people are missing the point. Its not about your option to buy another phone but when one vendor holds a very high percentage of a marketshare then he has a monopoly and can not force practices to exclude other competitors.

Microsoft has been fined big times in Europe today for not providing other internet browsers with their operational system.

Microsoft decided it is not disputing, will pay the fine and apologized and committed to fix the mistake.

Microsoft only holds 29.x% of internet browser and Apple holds way more then this on phone in North America so clearly Apple has a monopoly which is by customer choice but still can not force competitors out of its platform.

If the lawsuit was filed in Europe Apple I'm sure would have a much higher chances to lose.
Click to expand...

seriously.. I wish it was filed in Europe. It's about time to set some precedents that are good for the user.
 
This is a monopoly

Monopoly : The exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service.

As a developer, i can assure you Apple is a monopoly over the whole App Store.

You absolutely must pay the 30% to Apple for the app, the in-app purchase etc. They decide the rules for the app approval process (even rules that have nothing to do with security like preventing the purchase of subscription trough your own website inside your app).

For in-app purchase, they act as a payment provider (they do not keep track of your purchases or anything) but they charge 10 times what regular payment provider would charge (around 3% usually)

You also have to pay the developer account to keep your app on the app store (Ok, it is just 100$, but still, a monopolistic practice.)

Just saying...
 
gotluck said:
I would think the ipad has enough market share to be deemed as similar to microsoft's position in the PC market.
Click to expand...

It's possible, and would depend on how the court defined "the market" that the iPad is in. Is it tablets, is it mobile devices? The iPad share of the tablet market seems to keep dropping so that alone may already preclude them from having a monopoly position. Even if you showed they did, you'd have to show they're abusing that somehow (this is what got Microsoft in trouble, not actually just having a monopoly).
 
twigman08 said:
Not on the arcade store? Please tell me where else on the 360 I can buy games on the Arcade store? I must log onto X Box Live and browse the Arcade section and buy? If you would had read my post you would had saw that.
Click to expand...

its fine for microsoft and apple to use their appstore or arcade for exclusive titles, but microsoft does not force Ubisoft to sell all their games in the Arcade nor should apple forece all its developers to sell in the app store
 
I like the aspect of having to look only one place for apps instead of going hunting several different stores for apps. However, many apps that some people may find useful may be rejected. Look at all the photo apps that ere taken off the app store because they "could" show porn. Regardless how you feel about porn, I think people should have the ability to get what they want/need.

Another issue I have is Apple's "favored nation" status with ebooks where if a publisher wants to sell a book in iBooks, iBooks must have the lowest price. No other place the ebook is sold can have a lower price. I'm sorry, but publishers should set their own price.
 
Archangel158 said:
Monopoly : The exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service.

As a developer, i can assure you Apple is a monopoly over the whole App Store.

You absolutely must pay the 30% to Apple for the app, the in-app purchase etc. They decide the rules for the app approval process (even rules that have nothing to do with security like preventing the purchase of subscription trough your own website inside your app).

For in-app purchase, they act as a payment provider (they do not keep track of your purchases or anything) but they charge 10 times what regular payment provider would charge (around 3% usually)

You also have to pay the developer account to keep your app on the app store (Ok, it is just 100$, but still, a monopolistic practice.)

Just saying...
Click to expand...



exactly it effects the developers too not jsut the end user, but fan boys rush to apples defence no matter what
 
Northgrove said:
The two aren't comparable because Macs are largely content (including software) creation devices while phones and tablets are aimed for content consumption.
Click to expand...

Tell that to countless people here who state that the iPad is a computer and they can be just as productive on them as they can a laptop.

I'm not arguing with you. But on the flip side - I can understand why there's a lawsuit. Not that I agree with it.
 
heisenberg123 said:
"change" is not a bad thing

just because its always been that way I shocked so many sound mad at the idea of it being a more open source device, its fine to say buyers should know its closed and not complain later but nothing wrong with voicing your opinion that it would be better for everone(except apple) if it was not
Click to expand...

That wasn't an "opinion", really. And, No, We're not mad.
You can't really tell the difference between "giving opinion" and "suing", can you?
 
Dr McKay said:
The "If you don't like it, leave" doesn't fly with Monopoly investigations.
Click to expand...
Ok, so should Microsoft be investigated for having a monopoly on Xbox360 games? Should Sony be investigated for having a monopoly on PS3 games? Should Microsoft be investigated for not being able to run PS3 games? Should Sony be investigated for not being able to run Xbox360 games?
:rolleyes:
 
Archangel158 said:
Monopoly : The exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service.

As a developer, i can assure you Apple is a monopoly over the whole App Store.

You absolutely must pay the 30% to Apple for the app, the in-app purchase etc. They decide the rules for the app approval process (even rules that have nothing to do with security like preventing the purchase of subscription trough your own website inside your app).

For in-app purchase, they act as a payment provider (they do not keep track of your purchases or anything) but they charge 10 times what regular payment provider would charge (around 3% usually)

You also have to pay the developer account to keep your app on the app store (Ok, it is just 100$, but still, a monopolistic practice.)

Just saying...
Click to expand...

You can't not have a monopoly of your product. For Apple to have a Monopoly they would have to have much larger marketshare of the cell phone market. They own the App Store, and just like any store owner they set the fees and rules of the store.
 
aristotle said:
Ok, so should Microsoft be investigated for having a monopoly on Xbox360 games? Should Sony be investigated for having a monopoly on PS3 games? Should Microsoft be investigated for not being able to run PS3 games? Should Sony be investigated for not being able to run Xbox360 games?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Did you even read the article? They're being investigated for the way you can get the apps, You can only get them from a single App Store, Apples App Store. There's nowhere else to turn to for apps.

If you want to buy PS3 games or Xbox 360 games you can go to a number of different stores, dozens and dozens, or order them online, or download them. Your comparisons are hillarious. Are Apple being investigated for not being able to run Android apps on the iPhone? No.

Thanks for playing.
 
gotluck said:
bring on the hate...

it would be absolutely wonderful if one could install third party apps from alternative sources without a jailbreak

bring on "advanced user mode"

I bought the iphone, it's mine, let me put what I want on it. Should be treated like a PC IMO. The lockdown only benefits Apple / certain developers / people that cant handle freedom (tech newbies that shouldn't enable 'advanced mode').
Click to expand...

I take it you think the same way about gaming consoles?

And YOU CAN put what you want on it! Any dev can create an app and put it in the app store which you can then download. How are you being denied anything here?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back