Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Over Feature Delays

[Starfia]

Is this a concrete example of something the EU or a competitor is demanding from Apple? Because I can't think of a scenario right now where this kind of access would be required.

I don't know more than what is in the linked article from Apple…

We have this statement from last December citing requests for access to Wi-Fi network information (and much more) from their old pal Meta:

https://developer.apple.com/support/downloads/DMA-Interoperability-Dec-2024.pdf

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Maybe someone else will offer live translation that does not restrict choice of earphones in the European market and win market share from Apple in smartphones and/or their operating systems or live translation services. If only it reduces customers' dependence on Apple products, or leads to adoption of a more cross-platform translation service, that allows for easier switching between mobile operating systems. And accessories and headphones.

Someone else like a European cellular phone maker? Or someone else like an Android phone of the type that already commands an insurmountable market advantage in the EU? I guess when all phones in the EU are Android phones, they no longer have to worry about cross-platform compatibility!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

The specific features Apple is holding back are just those calibrated to create a fuss without driving buyers to the competition. Screen sharing impossible due to DMA? Route finding? Really?

Ultimately it's just a tussle between who is more powerful: Apple (representing 'big tech' generally) or the EU.

I'm actually not sure who will win.

I’d say the EU is going to win and, just like with Apple Vision Pro, folks that want a device that’s not available in the region they live in will still be able to buy them and use them, their AppleID will simply have to be elsewhere. Apple will still make money from all over the EU, those sales just won’t be happening in the EU. I guess the EU could try to shut down the gray market?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

How do these kind of issues on iOS compare to MacOS where you can basically do what you want with your device?

macOS users simply don’t mind buying and using less secure devices. No mystery there.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I cannot believe you continue to buy products from a company that you think lies to its users as much as you claim Apple lies to everyone.

That’s the core problem, I think. People don’t like to or want to research what products do. Then, instead of learning a valuable lesson after the fact, they continue to not research and end up being unhappy most of the time. Then, they want the government to make up so that when they make bad decisions, there’s less of a chance they’re penalized for them.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Sorry, you’re losing me on this one. You think Apple knew from the beginning it was going as going to have a billion users? The iPhone was pretty expensive at first release. Yes lots of hype but actual sales was anyone’s guess.

They didn’t even cross a million phones by December in the first year they were released. It was a HUGE gamble. How huge? So huge that, if the gamble paid off, it could lead to them one day being a $trillion+ company.

 

[MilaM]

Apple will still make money from all over the EU, those sales just won’t be happening in the EU. I guess the EU could try to shut down the gray market?

This is wishful thinking and won't work. A grey import iPhone would be much less useful.

- Likely no more Apple Pay.
- Manual configuration of carrier specific settings would be a nightmare.
- A lot of nice features like Visual Voicemail would not work any more.
- EU could mandate IMEI allowlists for imported phones. It would be unpopular, but still an option if things escalate.
- Banks, governments, public transport, would likely stop supporting their apps on iOS, making it much less useful.

The list goes on ...

 

[WeLikeVodka]

Guys... the EU isn't gonna ban apple, enough with this fearmongering. They haven't banned Huawei from selling their phones and appliances in the EU, and we all know how controversial that company's business practices are.