Apple Pushes Back Against India's New Digital Market Regulations

[mrochester]

It’s an interesting world we live in where consumer product features are increasingly being dictated by governments and regulators rather than consumer choice.

I wonder how long this phase will last before consumers demand freedom to make their own choices again?

It would be nice if regulators would do something about the android monopoly, the most anticompetitive thing about the smartphone market. We need regulations that allow other operating systems and ecosystems to emerge. Maybe after a smartphone OEM has reached a certain size they can no longer use Android and instead must create their own OS and ecosystem? That way a small startup can use a fairly ready-made OS and ecosystem but a large successful company must invest in their own OS and ecosystem to prevent the ongoing monopolisation of the market by Google.

 

[ric22]

Good. The day of Gatekeeper is coming to end. Sideloading should be user choice.

100%. There's no fair argument to be had. If people are happy in the walled garden, they can remain there.

 

[mrochester]

100%. There's no fair argument to be had. If people are happy in the walled garden, they can remain there.

The trouble is there won’t be a so-called ‘walled garden’ for consumers to choose. Governments are taking that choice away from consumers.

 

[sir1963nz]

The consumers and developers.

In the USA....they may be worse off.
However consumers will have the benefits of competition, not only in price, but in ideas.

 

[sir1963nz]

Yes. Yet, I feel that is probably massively leaning to the fact that they are ether the most populated or 2nd most populated country in the world.

The biggest economies in the world (from a small search https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/the-top-10-economies-in-the-world)

USA dwarfs everyone, then China. With slot 3 and 4 both going to countries no where near the population level of India. The only main reason China is on that list as high as they are is because the western world pretty much turned them into their manufacturing (beep) for the last 30+ years.

The USA is 4% of the worlds population and about 18% of the worlds GDP (and falling.)

 

[sir1963nz]

That's why my electricity is incredibly expensive and unreliable.

Oh, wait, it's the opposite. Without a profit motive, my electricity is actually cheap and very reliable.

Just like the health systems of 1st world countries even through they have Universal healthcare.

 

[dumastudetto]

These countries need to start respecting and appreciating the value Apple brings to their economies.

 

[ric22]

The trouble is there won’t be a so-called ‘walled garden’ for consumers to choose. Governments are taking that choice away from consumers.

What makes you fear this? The "opt in" to walked gardens would never be prevented. Obviously.

 

[mrochester]

What makes you fear this? The "opt in" to walked gardens would never be prevented. Obviously.

There’s no OS to replace iOS to allow people to pick a ‘walled garden’.

 

[aknabi]

Good for apple for pushing back. These regulations are just terrible.

Beware... Kind-looking Uncle Modi will go all Shiva on anyone's a** who doesn't submit to his wishes.

 

[ric22]

There’s no OS to replace iOS to allow people to pick a ‘walled garden’.

Why can't iOS have a toggle switch?? It could protect people that are afraid to use laptops and desktops.

 

[mrochester]

Why can't iOS have a toggle switch??

Then it’s no longer a ‘walled garden’.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Excellent news. The EU led the way, now the rest of the world will follow. Soon enough Apple apologists will have to encourage Apple to leave planet Earth and sell their iPhones on the Moon or on Mars. it’s also nice to see India seems to have taken an even stronger stance on the issue. Perhaps the EU will also tighten the regulations soon enough, that would also be good.

Hollywood exists because people wanted to get away from New York and copyright law enforcement.

Maybe space travel will finally kick off for similar reasons. At this rate, the most likely means of getting humans permanently off this planet will be a megacorporation funding the colony for the sole purpose of setting its own laws.

Between Musk, Bezos, and maybe soon Cook, it seems like they'd have more funding than NASA.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Then it’s no longer a ‘walled garden’.

Well sure it is, just now there's a door instead of having to bust holes in the wall.

 

[I7guy]

In the USA....they may be worse off.
However consumers will have the benefits of competition, not only in price, but in ideas.

And phishing and malware, etc.

 

[I7guy]

In the USA....they may be worse off.
However consumers will have the benefits of competition, not only in price, but in ideas.

I think in the US consumers will be better off.

 

[mrochester]

Well sure it is, just now there's a door instead of having to bust holes in the wall.

Exactly, a back door has been opened, and those who don’t want it can’t choose to not have it.

 

[Aoligei]

And phishing and malware, etc.

Yeah. Stop fear mongering. I have used Android since Android 4.0, I haven’t had any malware.

Also, phishing has nothing to do with walled garden. You can phishing emails, text, websites on iOS as well.

 

[Aoligei]

It’s an interesting world we live in where consumer product features are increasingly being dictated by governments and regulators rather than consumer choice.

Consumer product features are also subject to law. Corporations aren’t lawless or self-governing.

I wonder how long this phase will last before consumers demand freedom to make their own choices again?

It would be nice if regulators would do something about the android monopoly, the most anticompetitive thing about the smartphone market. We need regulations that allow other operating systems and ecosystems to emerge. Maybe after a smartphone OEM has reached a certain size they can no longer use Android and instead must create their own OS and ecosystem? That way a small startup can use a fairly ready-made OS and ecosystem but a large successful company must invest in their own OS and ecosystem to prevent the ongoing monopolisation of the market by Google.

There are only two mobile OS, one is iOS and one is Android. The big difference is there are many market participants using Android and adding their own flavours to Android.

Whereas iOS, there are only one, which is Apple.

It is pretty simple, make iOS more open, and possibles force Apple open source iOS, just like how Android is open source. Apple can add their own thing, such as iMessage etc.

 

[Aoligei]

Exactly, a back door has been opened, and those who don’t want it can’t choose to not have it.

Like isn't any back door in first place…

 

[mrochester]

Consumer product features are also subject to law. Corporations aren’t lawless or self-governing.



There are only two mobile OS, one is iOS and one is Android. The big difference is there are many market participants using Android and adding their own flavours to Android.

Whereas iOS, there are only one, which is Apple.

It is pretty simple, make iOS more open, and possibles force Apple open source iOS, just like how Android is open source. Apple can add their own thing, such as iMessage etc.

Since consumers should have the choice of a closed source, ‘walled garden’ OS and ecosystem, the solution to the issue of the duopoly is to regulate more mobile OSes and ecosystems into existence.

Forcing iOS to be more like Android reduces choice for consumers, not increase it.

Having more than two OSes and ecosystems to choose from increases choice for consumers.

 

[I7guy]

Yeah. Stop fear mongering. I have used Android since Android 4.0, I haven’t had any malware.

Also, phishing has nothing to do with walled garden. You can phishing emails, text, websites on iOS as well.

It’s not fear mongering if it’s a truism.

 

[vipergts2207]

Exactly, a back door has been opened, and those who don’t want it can’t choose to not have it.

Keep your door locked and it won't be a problem.

 

[mrochester]

Keep your door locked and it won't be a problem.

You can’t if an app you want/need isn’t published in the store you use.

 

[turbineseaplane]

@jhfenton

I totally agree with your anger about Apple

They should have made proactive changes years ago to avoid all this regulation

A very frustrating own goal from Apple leadership here