A unique problem for them is "they only sell EVs"
Makes any EV slump a massive issue that it simply "isn't" for nearly everyone they compete with
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EU Accuses Apple's App Store Steering Rules of Violating DMA and Opens Investigation into Developer Fees
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A unique problem for them is "they only sell EVs"
Makes any EV slump a massive issue that it simply "isn't" for nearly everyone they compete with
It's different outside the US though. In the EU and in China, Tesla is loosing market share. It's not as dominant as it used to be, because other manufacturers have caught up quite a bit. To get back to Apple, Cars is a very healthy market with a lot of competition!
Can you imagine the total outrage of Apple's shareholders if Apple decides to withdraw from a market the size of the EU? Somehow these comments always forget that Apple has accountability to it's shareholders.
Also, there are several other big markets creating their own DMAs, what is Apple going to do, withdraw from them all? It's not like the EU is the only market setting regulations.
Depending on how one interprets the auto market the entire market is in a slump.
But yeah Tesla has the SC network, clean energy initiatives and EVs. I’m bullish on TLSA AND APPL.
R&D takes money. If you are just going to be fined for doing well in business, why bother? You cannot have real competition if the EU keeps coming in and interfering and picking the winners and losers.
I've read your post. Seems to me Apple a has created the market and the opportunity, and you want to participate but don't want to play by their rules. Rules that have worked for hundreds of thousand developers. Should the rules evolve... sure, but if the rules were so restrictive all the great developers would have abandon the platform and Apple would have had to modify their rules. That hasn't happened. These EU complaints were brought by the most successful developers on the platform, Spitify and Epic, who tellingly didn't pull their apps from Apple (Epic was banned). If people couldn't get Spitify on their iPhones, they might consider buying Android, and Apple may have had to change their terms. That would be more fair than the having a government agency dictate according to the wishes of a few.
As it's been said before, it's like Coke telling a store owner how they should run the store. Coke doesn't have to sell their product there, and the store owner should be able to run the store as they see fit.
How about "disingenuous high-pitched griping"?
They are governing their market
All markets have rules and regulations and require government intervention
A "free" market is not a thing
And how will they sell the all-important services to European customers? Selling hardware is only half the profit nowadays. It would be an interesting experiment for sure. I would like to see how quickly heads will roll at Cupertino when they announce this fantastic idea.
They shouldn’t be able to charge anything. The apps aren’t being hosted, maintained etc by Apple
No, but a Brussel has been inside me. And I tell you what, it made a complete stink. Only at Christmas, that’s for sure.
Let's be honest. People need to stop comparing EU prices WITH VAT against U.S. prices without sales tax.
For example, the pre-VAT price of a 128GB iPhone 15 in Germany is around €792 which at the current exchange rate is around $849 USD. The pre-sales tax price of the same phone in the U.S. is $829. These prices are practically the same (Europe is nowhere near 25% higher) especially considering the iPhone in Germany has a 2 year warranty versus the 1 year warranty in the U.S.
The major difference in prices is related to the VAT (i.e., what the government charges, not what Apple charges) which is out of Apple's control.
We all take you at your word that you need iOS users to buy your product to be successful. What we disagree on is whether or not you should be able to have access to the market of those users without agreeing to Apple's rules or compensating Apple for creating the market that allow you to have a product.
Despite what you and others have said on here, I understand your position. And I can understand why, in your position, you hold it. I'm not arguing in bad faith. I also understand the EU has the right to pass whatever law they want. I just vehemently disagree that your/the EU's remedy is fair or appropriate. If Apple had 70% of the market, I'd be a lot more sympathetic. But, to me, the argument "Well even though Android exits, doesn't have rules, and has 70% market share, Apple has the best customers, and I need access to those customers to make enough money, therefore I should have access to those customers without following Apple's rules" is not convincing at all. Especially when I believe a large part of the reason they have the best customers is BECAUSE they make everyone follow their rules.
And in response to the DMA, Apple is saying "fine, you can sell in your own store and don't even have to follow our rules, but you need to compensate us for the use of the tools and services we created and our intellectual property that allow you to create your product because previously that was paid for by apps selling in our store."
And your response is not - "great, I can sell my product however I want now", but rather "HOW DARE APPLE CHARGE THE CTF - THAT'S NOT FAIR - they don't charge it to apps that follow their rules" (as if the fact that it wasn't previously explicitly spelled out that the 15/30% fee covered those things means Apple just invented it out of thin air to make you mad).
What you actually want is to be able to sell your app without paying Apple anything. That's what Spotify wants, that's what Epic wants. I don't think that's right. Obviously you think it's fine because that's how it's' worked on the Mac, or whatever. You want Spotify to develop an app for iOS, not pay Apple anything but $99, say it's a "free" app so they don't have to pay the CTF, and then make billions exploiting musicians.
And yes, the EU is going to do what the EU does. If the EU decides the CTF isn't kosher, then Apple won't be permitted to move forward. While I think EU proponents VASTLY overstate the importance of their market (it's a distant third after the US and China and Apple could pull out without materially impacting their business in the long run), Apple isn't going to pull out of Europe over the DMA. That doesn't mean you'll ever convince me the DMA fair or right.
Part of the problem in "monopoly" discussions is that there aren't necessarily clear legal, consistent definitions as they can vary by case/court. A monopoly doesn't have to mean sole control of a market as a monopoly can exist in a market that has alternatives.
For example, a U.S. district court ruled Microsoft was a monopoly in computer operating systems in 1999 despite the fact that alternatives existed including Mac OS, OS/2, Linux, BeOS, DR-OS, etc.
A U.S. jury declared Google's Play Store and payment system a monopoly last year despite alternatives existing.
One challenge is almost half of EV buyers, in the US at least, will get an ICE or hybrid as their next car. That does not bode well for rising adoption.
For the iPhone, I doubt the change the EU requires will have any noticeable impact of sales either way.
Of course you need to compare pre-VAT prices. I'm guessing some % of that $20 difference is to account for the longer warranty, a cost divided over all phones sold in the EU. It's really not a blanket 2 year warranty either, your warranty rights vary across the EU nations. Some are better than others.
Since when government started to worry about price of non-essential products?
EPIC charges for access to its Unity engine, even if they don't host, maintain, etc. your app. Why shouldn't Apple get paid for developers using their tech?
If the EU government makes it unprofitable for Apple to remain in that market, the shareholders will demand an exit.
Does Apple charge a core technology fee to sell and distribute apps for the Mac outside the AppStore?
I doubt that will ever happen. More likely is a fragmentation of the market with the EU not getting some features that Apple decides cannot be made compliant or they do not wish to allow 3rd parties to access. We see some hints of that already.