We have already seen the negative impacts of this sort of stance with Windows and the Crowdstrike situation. Because Microsoft couldn't lock down certain access, they allowed a product to operate in such a way that caused a massive outage. Apple, Google, Microsoft, they all should have MORE access than any random third party developer. They are the operating system creators, they should have more access than anyone else. I don't agree with the stance that Apple must open iOS to the same level of access to any and all random developers.
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Apple Gets EU Warning to Open iOS to Third-Party Connected Devices
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Corporations aren't people.
So yeah, nothing bad that happens to one of the richest companies in the world should be of any concern to any of us.
Also, to be very clear about this: "forcing a (...) company to provide support and resources to its competitor" - I'll let you have that definition of "providing APIs". However: No one's forcing Apple or any other company to do anything.
They're in the EU market by their own free will to make a truckload of money for their shareholders.
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You’re clearly making a whole lot of assumptions from my statement because I didn’t say any of that.
As for “unfair” business practices, they have been in place for decades and no one batted an eye or asked for any changes from a customer’s perspective.
Now if the EU really cared about competition, maybe they should create a third operating system alternative that is as open as they want it to be. Well, guess what, that actually takes skills and a long time but Europe doesn’t have that as their darling Nokia utterly failed. So… can’t innovate? Regulate!
Time to give EU a finger and quit.
The European Union today issued a warning to Apple, demanding that the tech giant open up its iOS operating system to rival companies and third-party developers or potentially face significant fines. The move is part of the EU's efforts to enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to ensure fair competition in the digital marketplace.
The European Commission has initiated two specification proceedings to guide Apple towards compliance with its interoperability obligations under the DMA. These latest proceedings focus on iOS connectivity features for connected devices and the process Apple has established for addressing interoperability requests from developers.
In a statement accompanying the Commission's press release, EU executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager said, "Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under the DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue."
"We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this," Vestager added.
The first proceeding targets iOS functionalities predominantly used by connected devices such as smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets. The EU intends to specify how Apple should provide effective interoperability with features like notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.
The second proceeding examines the transparency, timeliness, and fairness of Apple's process for handling interoperability requests from developers and third parties for iOS and iPadOS.
Currently, Apple offers limited developer access to certain iOS features, such as its Siri voice assistant, and restricts access to the contactless payments system foundational to Apple Pay. The EU's action aims to address these limitations and ensure a more open ecosystem.
The EU has given Apple six months to address these concerns. If the company fails to comply, it could face fines of up to 10% of its annual turnover under the DMA's provisions.
The latest warning comes even though Apple has already loosened its App Store regulations for developers and has committed to opening up its NFC chip to third parties in response to the DMA. However, the EU's latest action suggests that these measures may not be sufficient to fully comply with the new regulations.
Article Link: Apple Gets EU Warning to Open iOS to Third-Party Connected Devices
Going by the apparent thinking behind the EU’s DMA, I’m off to my local Ford dealership to buy a new car but I’m going to demand it has a Porsche engine and an Audi interior.
After all, Audi‘s EU owner (VW Group) has 26% of the market compared with Ford’s 4%, so clearly it is unfair competition.
After all, Audi‘s EU owner (VW Group) has 26% of the market compared with Ford’s 4%, so clearly it is unfair competition.
Then you should manage your devices yourself first and not rely on obscurity in the name of protecting your data.
I feel like online behaviour is infinitely more important in this sense than the promise of companies. Apple themselves have backdoors to stuff like the NSA so this is kind of a moot point
Yeah but if you haven't noticed, there already are alternatives, the world is gonna move on if american tech companies leave the EU. Given how everything is available online, I don't think this is even feasible considering Microsoft and Google will continue to operate just fine.
Sure, you will bring up stuff like market share, but this is covered by Apple and Google being uncompetitive.
If Apple breaks the law, saying "but others have done it too" isn't really an excuse.
Rich companies have an advantage over smaller, less well funded companies, so we should just limit how much money any given company can earn or hold. Say, to a million bucks, that'll level the playing field.
Sadly, the EU is still undemocratic at its core. It's gotten a little better, but if you think the EU is "by the people, for the people" then you have no idea about the realities in the European Union. And yes, laws get bought and paid for by special interests all the time.
I do think open standards are a good thing, but let's not kid ourselves into believing the EU does this out of some sort of love for end users.
Sadly, the EU is still undemocratic at its core. It's gotten a little better, but if you think the EU is "by the people, for the people" then you have no idea about the realities in the European Union. And yes, laws get bought and paid for by special interests all the time.
I do think open standards are a good thing, but let's not kid ourselves into believing the EU does this out of some sort of love for end users.
That didn't happen?Yeah, that didn’t happen, but whatever helps you sleep at night
Google prevented Windows Phone being relevant almost by itself. Apple gets preferential treatment by the carriers and the media.
I understand what you're saying and generally agree, but I don't think in this instance that Apple has sincerely tried but failed to understand and comply with some vague legislation, despite having probably one of the world's best corporate legal teams. Apple seem to have gone out of their way to deliberately and knowingly avoid complying with a very clear intent of the regulations, effectively playing dumb.
I refer to them as a minor player because they have 25% of the world-wide market. Android is pretty much the other 75%. Since a large supermajority of the market is Android, that makes Apple a minor player.
Well i think at least 95% of phone users do, for charging at least. The port is also faster than anything else to transfer files directly as well.
It is a bit a of a hot take. Sure its definitely more comfortable to have no ports or cables. But we are far from being portless as the rest of the electronic industry still uses a lot of cables and connectors
It is less efficient to charge wireless than wired, and this will stay like this a long time. It also takes longer time to charge and in some cases it will contribute to faster battery degrading.
No innovation? Linux and the World Wide Web comes immediately to my mind.
The European Union today issued a warning to Apple, demanding that the tech giant open up its iOS operating system to rival companies and third-party developers or potentially face significant fines. The move is part of the EU's efforts to enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to ensure fair competition in the digital marketplace.
The European Commission has initiated two specification proceedings to guide Apple towards compliance with its interoperability obligations under the DMA. These latest proceedings focus on iOS connectivity features for connected devices and the process Apple has established for addressing interoperability requests from developers.
In a statement accompanying the Commission's press release, EU executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager said, "Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under the DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue."
"We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this," Vestager added.
The first proceeding targets iOS functionalities predominantly used by connected devices such as smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets. The EU intends to specify how Apple should provide effective interoperability with features like notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.
The second proceeding examines the transparency, timeliness, and fairness of Apple's process for handling interoperability requests from developers and third parties for iOS and iPadOS.
Currently, Apple offers limited developer access to certain iOS features, such as its Siri voice assistant, and restricts access to the contactless payments system foundational to Apple Pay. The EU's action aims to address these limitations and ensure a more open ecosystem.
The EU has given Apple six months to address these concerns. If the company fails to comply, it could face fines of up to 10% of its annual turnover under the DMA's provisions.
The latest warning comes even though Apple has already loosened its App Store regulations for developers and has committed to opening up its NFC chip to third parties in response to the DMA. However, the EU's latest action suggests that these measures may not be sufficient to fully comply with the new regulations.
Article Link: Apple Gets EU Warning to Open iOS to Third-Party Connected Device
EU is going to receive 3 yo iPhone SE (iPhone EU?) with Android installed. If it sounds weird, take a look at Brazil and to how capped, feature wise, IOS is here.
They’re not blocking competition. Just buy Samsung or Xiaomi! You’re free to choose. Why isn’t EU forcing Audi to allow BMW’s engine or Mercedes’s infotainment in their cars? Closed ecosystems are nothing new and they’re not exclusive to Apple. Is UCL blocking competition by not allowing Argentinian clubs to play? They’re denying Argentinian fans the right to support their clubs wherever they want to.
Safety and privacy are strong enough reasons for Apple to be so restrictive. People, specially politicians, just don’t get it. You can buy an Android and take the risk of installing malware, phishing bank apps, connecting smartwatches that smear your stuff and spy on you. It’s a matter of choice. You’re free to not buy a very expensive phone and keep [redacted] around about the lack of connectivity between it and your cheap, unchecked, SW. Or you can keep it cheap, buy a Xiaomi, save your money and connect it to whatever you want.
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Perhaps it’s a moot point to you, but I prefer to pay for a product that I can be sure of. So far, in over 16 years of using Apple products, I have nothing to complain about. I look at my personal experience with Apple and I’m happy with it.
The EU does seem determined to absolutely destroy the business Apple created.
There are two options - keep driving prices higher in the EU to pay for all this madness, or, if the EU demands truly do undermine the ecosystem that Apple has created, then maybe Apple will pack their bags and leave.
50? Blimey.
The Inverse is true. It's Apple thatbis wielding to much poeer.
Are you trying to compare an individual's liberty and privacy and autonomy with a massive multinational company and expecting it to somehow be remotely similar?
What a world you seem to live in. I say the US should send in the army. Protect Apple at all costs.
The 'closed garden' has little to do with the security of the OS. Try to learn a bit more about it before spouting apples marketing.
I beleive you don't live under any of The Governments enforcing the DMA. So you don't have to worry.
Its not a request.
They're not even slightly doing that. Acting all clever and being a know-nothing all and shouting 'markets should decide' on every post and then stating such an utter misunderstanding of what's actual being required is rather amusing.
Sure you will.
Thanks to Apple
Again, Apple and Google “behaving like mob bosses” didn’t happen.
Microsoft’s inability to make a compelling smart phone is on no one but Microsoft.
Apple’s ability to negotiate a good deal with carriers isn’t preventing anyone else from designing and popularizing a third platform. Neither does the media’s coverage of Apple.
I don’t think its as black and white as some here make it out to be. The EU is pushing for greater interoperability of iOS with smartwatches, headphones, and other devices, and for transparency in how Apple handles developer requests.
There are arguments in favor of this…
Increased competition ensures that we aren’t locked into one ecosystem, we have a choice from a broader range of products that may be more affordable or offer better features.
By allowing third-party access to key features like notifications and connectivity, smaller developers can innovate and create better products, fostering a competitive tech market.
The absence of monopolistic control could lead to lower prices as companies have to compete based on value, not brand loyalty.
Ensuring fair and open standards should help us understand how our data is used across devices.
In essence, these regulations are designed to ensure monopolies do not hinder innovation, giving us, the consumers, more control over our purchases.
That being said, I am from the EU and I am immensely p*ssed off Apple AI won’t be available here for the foreseeable future and I would very much like for the EU to sort this out with Apple.
Also, looking globally… the EU itself is very much behind other countries/continents when it comes to innovation.
There are arguments in favor of this…
Increased competition ensures that we aren’t locked into one ecosystem, we have a choice from a broader range of products that may be more affordable or offer better features.
By allowing third-party access to key features like notifications and connectivity, smaller developers can innovate and create better products, fostering a competitive tech market.
The absence of monopolistic control could lead to lower prices as companies have to compete based on value, not brand loyalty.
Ensuring fair and open standards should help us understand how our data is used across devices.
In essence, these regulations are designed to ensure monopolies do not hinder innovation, giving us, the consumers, more control over our purchases.
That being said, I am from the EU and I am immensely p*ssed off Apple AI won’t be available here for the foreseeable future and I would very much like for the EU to sort this out with Apple.
Also, looking globally… the EU itself is very much behind other countries/continents when it comes to innovation.
oh look an account that's been around 19 minutes...
this should be a politic topic and only allow comments from longer term posters... surely?
Tim: "The time has come to open iOS up. Install Android in those EU phones and be done with it"