Apple Warns UK Risks Feature Delays Under Proposed Competition Rules

[martint235]

Is absolutely worse for the consumer. Fewer features, missing features, higher prices, less choice, reduced privacy, more scams, slower innovation and worse security. All when an open option already exists for those who prefer it.

Only if the consumer continues with Apple. It may be the tipping point for many who will decide to go for the competitive, innovative market that is Android.

 

[kcwookie]

undercutting Apple's 30% commission model.

Ultimately, this will just increase phone prices as a substitute, one income stream for another.

 

[surferfb]

Only if the consumer continues with Apple. It may be the tipping point for many who will decide to go for the competitive, innovative market that is Android.

Which is exactly how it should work!

If you're upset with Apple's business practices, their policies, etc. Go with the competition. Continuing to buy iPhones when it's very clear how Apple locks down iOS is just telling Apple that their users either prefer the locked down system, or at the very least don't care that it is locked down.

Having the government come in and force your preference on Apple and the users who want iOS to stay closed is just selfishly saying "my preferences are more important than Apples or yours."

 

[kcwookie]

Only if the consumer continues with Apple. It may be the tipping point for many who will decide to go for the competitive, innovative market that is Android.

Silly comment, the EU is trying to do the same thing to Google. Who do you think creates android phones? From what I’ve read, Google would like to move towards an apple like system to eliminate some of the junk on their system.

 

[BaldiMac]

EU made the entire world realize big tech is selling their data like hot cakes.

which is also funny, as apples equivalent of cookie pop up (track / do not track question) is somehow a great privacy feature?

But the difference between Apple's "Do Not Track" and the EU's cookie popups is the point. The EU completely screwed up the implementation. By putting the burden on websites, the EU created a mess to the point that if you don't want to accept cookies, you have to deal with the cookie popup every time you visit a website. And, of course, not all websites even comply.

The EU should have but the burden on browsers. Ask once, and you could even sync your site preferences across browsers if you prefer. Clean, efficient, and enforceable.

The EU's goals to mandate consent for cookies are great. They should just let others figure out how to meet those goals.

 

[Happy_John]

In this particular case, supposition, because the regulation isn’t even in place yet, but you only have to look at history to see how these things play out. Government doesn't know better than business in cases like this.

Just look at the EU:

• No iPhone mirroring (fewer/missing features)
• Prices higher than they are in the US (And no, it's not just because of currency or VAT, but also to partially to offset the costs of higher regulation)
• Users who want a closed ecosystem no longer have that option (less choice)
• Interoperability mandates means exposing more user data to firms like Meta (less privacy)
• Innovation is slower in Europe because of their regulation
• Insisted on bringing Android-style security problems from sideloading and third party stores to iOS.

Apple knows its customers and its products better than some regulator who has an ideological opposition to closed ecosystems. If users want an option for an open system, they have one. No need to trample on Apple's property rights and take away others' preferences for a closed ecosystem because you don't want to use android.

And yet, the vast majority of people in the EU are not clamoring to emigrate to the USA.

it's not quite as one sided as you make out.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I venture to guess most people don’t believe the above based on revenue over the last 10 years.

Sure, but we can say the same for Tesla. No such thing as bad press, so they say.

 

[MilaM]

If you're upset with Apple's business practices, their policies, etc. Go with the competition. Continuing to buy iPhones when it's very clear how Apple locks down iOS is just telling Apple that their users either prefer the locked down system, or at the very least don't care that it is locked down.

There is no real competition. Google will lock down Android bit by bit, until it's practically indistinguishable from iOS.

 

[martint235]

Silly comment, the EU is trying to do the same thing to Google. Who do you think creates android phones? From what I’ve read, Google would like to move towards an apple like system to eliminate some of the junk on their system.

Oh I do enjoy being called silly. The EU is trying to stop international corporations dictating law. Aside from which this story is about the UK. Google only make one brand of phone and are nowhere close to controlling the market (plus we’ve yet to see how Huawei plays out in the OS market) hence you get more innovation in the android space (look at the salivating in these forums about a possible folding phone which has existed in the android world for years)

 

[kcwookie]

So we in the EU had to wait half a year for the more or less useless Apple Intelligence, but got sideloading, alternative app stores, universal charging ports and more repairability instead? I'd take that deal anytime. Besides, Apple often withholds features in the EU or releases them without a timeline, often on the day when pigs fly. So I'd take that bully-excuse that the EU is hitting itself with a grain of salt.

I mean, it's obvious from past behaviour, that it's Apple's bottom line first, decency and customers second, as recently again demonstrated by Tim Cook, brownnosing and bribing that orange laughingstock. I still like their products, but imho they should not be allowed to dictate politics for their gain.

Not all customers are created alike. For me I switched from android to Apple because I got tired of things not working. I’ve been using the iPhone since the 4S and I recognize things have changed, but I doubt they’ve changed that much.

• iOS = Monetization trust. Developers can trust that if they make something great and charge for it, enough users will pay.
• Android = Distribution trust. Developers can trust they’ll reach huge audiences, but the money usually has to come from ads or scale-driven freemium models.

Quality productivity apps come to iOS before they come to android. I prefer safety insecurity and having the tools I need.

 

[JamesMay82]

Ah. Whataboutism at its finest.

Amazon Marketplace is on the EU list of DMA Gatekeepers (which the UK rules will probably copy & paste) so they'll be subject to the same rules if anybody makes a complaint or if they try anything nasty in the future - meanwhile, there's still a huge choice of online shopping sites & direct selling from manufacturers. This story is here because Apple whined and this is an Apple rumours site.

I'll be lodging a complaint then! Amazon are very cut throat and have destroyed a lot of the high street through their business practices. I'm not against Apples 30% cut because they've created the platform. You can argue that Amazon have as well but their costs are a lot higher and they threaten to remove you if you don't give them favourable pricing!

 

[kcwookie]

Oh I do enjoy being called silly. The EU is trying to stop international corporations dictating law. Aside from which this story is about the UK. Google only make one brand of phone and are nowhere close to controlling the market (plus we’ve yet to see how Huawei plays out in the OS market) hence you get more innovation in the android space (look at the salivating in these forums about a possible folding phone which has existed in the android world for years)

For the most part, Google controls their own operating system. There is a **** ton of stuff to pile on top of it, but the nuts and bolts are googles.

 

[kcwookie]

I'll be lodging a complaint then! Amazon are very cut throat and have destroyed a lot of the high street through their business practices. I'm not against Apples 30% cut because they've created the platform. You can argue that Amazon have as well but their costs are a lot higher and they threaten to remove you if you don't give them favourable pricing!

Speaking of Amazon, shop, Temu you can probably find most of the same products cheaper because that’s where a lot of the reseller on Amazon are getting them.

 

[Tr55]

Personally I support this from my impression, sorry but giant US tech firms do not get to dictate the rules, they follow them, and it is a fact they tend to crush the little guy. American capitalism ideology doesn’t always match capitalist ideology of other nations. And hence the laws and rules are made as such. Apple needs to be a global player here.

EU anti competition laws are very good and very strong. Of course it is not perfect, but it is better than nothing. We would not have USB C on iPhones if it wasn’t for EU anti competition laws for instance. Naturally I do not trust the British government one bit, and I hope they don’t mess it all up……. But I expect they will.

The EU initiatly pushed Micro USB which is an abomination.

The EU is a technological and innovation backwater compared to the USA. They are falling further and further behind in every important economic metric. The EU kills entrepreneurs with high regulations and taxation.

You are right that American capitalist ideology doesn’t always match EU capitalist ideology because the EUs ideas of Capitalism look more like socialism with a hint of communism. And unlike years ago, EU countries are not shy about boasting about their draconian socialist and speech ideals these days. For example you can have free speech in the EU except if someone takes offence or you state a right wing opinion.

In the USA is everything is pretty much allowed by default, in Europe everything is not allowed by default and this mindset is killing them and they know it so are trying to kneecap US Tech companies.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Good. Apple should just send them a device that just makes phone calls.

 

[surferfb]

There is no real competition. Google will lock down Android bit by bit, until it's practically indistinguishable from iOS.

They're locking down Pixel phones ("certified Android devices"), not Android. Why? Because surprise: Apple's arguments about scams and malware aren't actually FUD, but serious problems. From your article:

According to its own survey, Google says that more than 50 times more malware came through internet-sideloaded sources compared with Google Play, where it has required developer verification since 2023.

 

[turbineseaplane]

threatening to withhold Apple Intelligence. 🤣🤣.

The ultimate “don’t threaten me with a good time!”

 

[Tr55]

I mean, it's obvious from past behaviour, that it's Apple's bottom line first, decency and customers second, as recently again demonstrated by Tim Cook, brownnosing and bribing that orange laughingstock. I still like their products, but imho they should not be allowed to dictate politics for their gain.

One of the biggest selling points for me about Apple is their incredible customer support. They will repair things for free if there is even a hint of a manufacturing fault, many times they will just do it anyway. Repairs are done for years, software is updated for many years.

Compared that to the support you get from European companies for their products, it’s almost always complete disdain. Their car industry being the worst.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

EU shot themselves in the foot. Hopefully UK won't follow suit.

Just remember, EU gave us cookie popups. They have no idea what they're doing.

Random non-standard cookie popups at that. The only thing they got right was one-click unsubscribe.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So while 30% Is higher it's certainly cheaper than others.

Minor correction, 15%. There’s an exceedingly tiny number of companies that pay 30% (out of 2.2 million apps, less than 500 cleared a million in 2024, so 0.02273% are paying 30%).

 

[211]

The EU's total failure to enforce the rules against the member states for not properly enforcing the regulations created the mess that is modern cookie popups.

There will be an update to GDPR to address this. However, I cannot see how the EU can review every single website to see if they comply. The user can report a site, which is the most practical way

 

[paradox00]

Google is copying apple to limit side loading in newest Pixel phones. That “open” option is closing itself by the day. Whether you like it or not, feature parity between android and iOS will only increase. Accept it or stop using smartphones run in iOS and android.

Both Apple and Google have lost lawsuits due to their efforts to restrict app sales to channels they take revenue from. Lawmakers across the world are starting take action against them. That’s literally what this article is about, I don’t know why you think the closing of open options is the inevitable outcome.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

In this particular case, supposition, because the regulation isn’t even in place yet, but you only have to look at history to see how these things play out. Government doesn't know better than business in cases like this.

Just look at the EU:

• No iPhone mirroring (fewer/missing features)
• Prices higher than they are in the US (And no, it's not just because of currency or VAT, but also to partially to offset the costs of higher regulation)
• Users who want a closed ecosystem no longer have that option (less choice)
• Interoperability mandates means exposing more user data to firms like Meta (less privacy)
• Innovation is slower in Europe because of their regulation
• Insisted on bringing Android-style security problems from sideloading and third party stores to iOS.

Apple knows its customers and its products better than some regulator who has an ideological opposition to closed ecosystems. If users want an option for an open system, they have one. No need to trample on Apple's property rights and take away others' preferences for a closed ecosystem because you don't want to use android.

Don’t forget, for any company to avoid EU gatekeeper regulations, they have to limit the sales of their goods/services to 1 or 2 member states. Apple Vision Pro is already only sold in Germany and France, so it can’t be a gatekeeper. And it’s almost a certainty that companies bringing next gen devices to the EU will also limit sales to Germany and France… that’s where most of the sales are anyway and if their product is a runaway success there, they’ll never be a gatekeeper.

 

[JamesMay82]

Speaking of Amazon, shop, Temu you can probably find most of the same products cheaper because that’s where a lot of the reseller on Amazon are getting them.

We've noticed that last year with the local garden centres selling their Christmas ornaments and it's all same stuff on temu just way more expensive. Its tough to be a business owner these days

 

[paradox00]

Ultimately, this will just increase phone prices as a substitute, one income stream for another.

No. It would more likely force Apple to focus on hardware innovation if they can’t rely on services for growth.

Apple isn’t offering discounts on the iPhone right now based on services revenue. They have already been charging whatever they think the market will bear for maximum hardware profits (I do expect a phone price increase this year, however, unrelated to services revenue).