EU Chief Calls on Apple CEO Tim Cook to Open Hardware and Software Ecosystem

[MacRumors]

EU industry chief Thierry Breton today publicly called on Apple CEO Tim Cook to open the company's ecosystem of hardware and software to rivals (via Reuters).

Following an in-person meeting with Cook earlier today in Brussels, Belgium, Breton told Reuters:

The next job for Apple and other Big Tech, under the DMA (Digital Markets Act) is to open up its gates to competitors. Be it the electronic wallet, browsers or app stores, consumers using an Apple iPhone should be able to benefit from competitive services by a range of providers.

The EU's Digital Markets Act seeks to curtail the power of major tech companies. Designated "gatekeeper" platforms will now face prohibition against favoring their own services over those of rivals. Earlier this month, Apple's App Store, Safari, and iOS were officially classified as gatekeepers. Apple is expected to add support for sideloading apps from outside the App Store on iPhones and iPads in Europe via an update to iOS 17 due to the DMA's requirements.

Breton went on to be critical of Apple's argument that security and privacy are the reasons it protects its closed ecosystem. "EU regulation fosters innovation, without compromising on security and privacy," Breton added. After the discussion, Cook today visited a local Apple retail store in Brussels:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1706609678522658865

Apple apparently declined to respond to Breton's latest remarks.

Article Link: EU Chief Calls on Apple CEO Tim Cook to Open Hardware and Software Ecosystem

 

[NT1440]

Hardware?

 

[haruhiko]

lol Europe really wants to kill the whole business model of Apple. Does anyone remember the browser selection screen of Microsoft Windows?

 

[GMShadow]

"EU regulation fosters innovation, without compromising on security and privacy," Breton added.

Literally no one with a fifth grade education believes this.

consumers using an Apple iPhone should be able to benefit from competitive services by a range of providers.

Translation: European businesses aren't competitive due to the regulations we crushed them under, so now we must crush others to bring them down to our level.

 

[applesith]

If Apple doesn't like this, they should get ahead of it coming to the USA and be ready to lobby against it. Or even lobby to have something passed in the USA that protects Apple's hold on their hardware and software to create resistance of it working in the EU. If GDPR can start making its way to American laws, any tech regulation from the EU can make its way over.

 

[DeepWebinar]

can’t wait to see everyone mentally contort themselves to defend billion dollar tech companies and think that’s normal in the comments 🍿

 

[gpat]

lol Europe really wants to kill the whole business model of Apple. Does anyone remember the browser selection screen of Microsoft Windows?

It was ridiculous when Microsoft had to suffer this kind of nonsense, and it's equally ridiculous now for Apple.
I don't even use iOS but the EU really doesn't have a clue about its priorities.

 

[iAppleOrchard]

No...

No...​

NO!!!​

The EU needs to stop controlling Apple...
If people switch to Android to use iMessage and other ecosystem features, it will make Apple much worse.

 

[floral]

So... an iPhone physical development kit? Sounds okay.

 

[iBluetooth]

I like this except for "Safari". If users can install Chrome on iPhones, then there will be no other browser engines used and Chrome will get total monopoly!
Note: Current Chrome App is running on top of Safari, i.e. using the the WebKit development engine from Safari. Originally Chrome was built on top of this same engine, but that changed a few years ago

 

[icanhazmac]

"EU regulation fosters innovation, without compromising on security and privacy," Breton added.

🐴💩

Fosters innovation my ***, we are now stuck with a substandard connector until these idiots decide another is "better". Stifling innovation is more accurate.

Company X could create a much better connector tomorrow but will anyone adopt it, no. What incentive does any company have to try and develop the next great connector? None, because if the EU doesn't like it, it will never get adopted.

 

[laptech]

Hardware?

An example of this is NFC. Apple severely restricts who has access to it's NFC hardware technology.

 

[rdinterman]

Many of us CHOOSE Apple because of their ecosystem. It’s called a free market. If people don’t want it they are FREE to choose something else.

 

[h.gilbert]

If Apple allows sideloading that is as easy as it is with Android I will immediately get an iPhone.

 

[840quadra]

Fosters innovation? I am not sure about that.

 

[iBluetooth]

I would also like the EU, to force Apple to sell their M2, M3, ... chips to other suppliers, so that we can get home servers and other power efficient computers.

 

[contacos]

Many of us CHOOSE Apple because of their ecosystem. It’s called a free market. If people don’t want it they are FREE to choose something else.

That’s not how Europe works though. We love to regulate everything down to the 100th foot note and that’s why it takes a million years to approve anything new

 

[h.gilbert]

Many of us CHOOSE Apple because of their ecosystem. It’s called a free market. If people don’t want it they are FREE to choose something else.

I don't see how opening up software and hardware will impact the 'ecosystem'. If you want stuff to work together just carry on using Apple apps.

 

[wanha]

Hardware?

That's what I noticed too. Sure sounds like eventually the EU would like for apple to license iOS to others, but that will never happen.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Apple, just leave. They're going to keep this BS up until it isn't worth your time to be there. Cut it off now and be done with their insane BS.

 

[wanha]

It's ironic to read the EU guys talking about "fostering innovation" when there's so precious little of it happening in the EU.

But when the only tool you have is a hammer, I guess you tend to see every problem as a nail.

 

[Red Oak]

What does it mean to open your “hardware ecosystem”?

Apple already provides AirPlay, Airdrop, NFC access via Apple Wallet, standard USB-C, access to biometric services and sensors, etc…

Unfortunate how the EU cannot compete in tech

 

[laptech]

🐴💩

Fosters innovation my ***, we are now stuck with a substandard connector until these idiots decide another is better. Stifling innovation is more accurate.

lol @ substandard connector. Every big tech company on the planet uses this 'substandard' connector on their products and it's not caused them any problems but when Apple is told to use it, suddenly it becomes a problem. Apple like to use proprietary connectors in their products because it forces users to purchases Apple's expensive accessories.

 

[tardman91]

can’t wait to see everyone mentally contort themselves to defend billion dollar tech companies and think that’s normal in the comments 🍿

I think people are defending the user experience more so than defending billion dollar tech companies. Do you want your iPhone experience to be like Android? What a disaster that would be. Most people use Apple products because of the whole ecosystem and the (mostly) seamless user experience.

 

[jimbobb24]

can’t wait to see everyone mentally contort themselves to defend billion dollar tech companies and think that’s normal in the comments 🍿

I agree once company gets to a billion they should have no rights and exist only to be plundered and abused by the whims of politicians. It’s only right.