http://blog.echofon.com/2010/05/our-experience-with-ftc.html
They seem to be unclear on how an investigation works. That the FTC investigators interviewing Echofon about Google/AdMob were only interested in discussing the Google/AdMob relationship should not be surprising.
Aside from the fact that it was off-topic to the investigation, there's reason why the FTC wouldn't be concerned with Apple's acquisition of Quattro Wireless.
With Google/AdMob, the world's largest and hugely dominant internet advertiser is seeking to purchase the world's largest mobile app advertiser.
With Apple/Quattro, you have a company that does not have any stake in advertising seeking to purchase the world's second largest mobile app advertiser.
There's a world of difference there. Whether Apple owns Quattro or not does not affect the makeup of the advertising space. There will still be the same number of players with the same competitive share of the market. The only thing that will change is the name of the company that owns Quattro's share of the ad market.
Now, if Apple were to change its SDK or do other things to make the app advertising market less competitive, there may be a secondary issue at hand, but that hypothetical scenario has no bearing on the FTCs hesitancy to offer up Google a huge monopoly on web and mobile advertising.
Echofon admits that AdMob requested them to write a letter in support of AdMob to the FTC. They aren't clear whether they did in fact write that letter. Regardless, one thing is known, Echofon is not exactly an expert at antitrust legal issues.
They seem to be unclear on how an investigation works. That the FTC investigators interviewing Echofon about Google/AdMob were only interested in discussing the Google/AdMob relationship should not be surprising.
Aside from the fact that it was off-topic to the investigation, there's reason why the FTC wouldn't be concerned with Apple's acquisition of Quattro Wireless.
With Google/AdMob, the world's largest and hugely dominant internet advertiser is seeking to purchase the world's largest mobile app advertiser.
With Apple/Quattro, you have a company that does not have any stake in advertising seeking to purchase the world's second largest mobile app advertiser.
There's a world of difference there. Whether Apple owns Quattro or not does not affect the makeup of the advertising space. There will still be the same number of players with the same competitive share of the market. The only thing that will change is the name of the company that owns Quattro's share of the ad market.
Now, if Apple were to change its SDK or do other things to make the app advertising market less competitive, there may be a secondary issue at hand, but that hypothetical scenario has no bearing on the FTCs hesitancy to offer up Google a huge monopoly on web and mobile advertising.
Echofon admits that AdMob requested them to write a letter in support of AdMob to the FTC. They aren't clear whether they did in fact write that letter. Regardless, one thing is known, Echofon is not exactly an expert at antitrust legal issues.