They were doing fine on desktop. And they would have been fine if they could distribute their app on the website for the iPhone.
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Spotify Lauds $2 Billion EU Fine, Says Apple Has 'Muzzled' Streaming Music Services
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The only thing I have ever felt was wrong about the App Store rules was that apps cannot provide links to their websites to sign up for service.
Clearly, launching the link in an embedded web view would be misleading to the user and make them think that they were buying through the App Store leading to a cost for Apple to field customer service calls.
But a link that triggered a message telling the user it would leave the app and open the vendor’s website would be straightforward and not confuse people — especially if they have to enter their credit card (something they never do through the App Store).
However, I do feel that Apple’s arguments in this case are solid and I have a problem punishing a company for anti-competitive behavior when they are not the market share leader in music streaming (Spotify) nor in mobile OS platform (Android). When the market share leader (e.g.: Spotify for music and Amazon for ebooks) is able to muzzle their competitors through government regulation it feels like state sponsored anti-competitive behavior.
Also, where is that fine going? To Spotify or to help pay down EU government debts?
Clearly, launching the link in an embedded web view would be misleading to the user and make them think that they were buying through the App Store leading to a cost for Apple to field customer service calls.
But a link that triggered a message telling the user it would leave the app and open the vendor’s website would be straightforward and not confuse people — especially if they have to enter their credit card (something they never do through the App Store).
However, I do feel that Apple’s arguments in this case are solid and I have a problem punishing a company for anti-competitive behavior when they are not the market share leader in music streaming (Spotify) nor in mobile OS platform (Android). When the market share leader (e.g.: Spotify for music and Amazon for ebooks) is able to muzzle their competitors through government regulation it feels like state sponsored anti-competitive behavior.
Also, where is that fine going? To Spotify or to help pay down EU government debts?
I think the fine is going to the EU. I am not sure if Spotify will see a dime from the 2 billion fine.
Why would I not want to inform my customers that cheaper alternatives are available so that I can get more subscribers? When Apple Music is $9.99 and Spotify is $12.99 due to Apple tax, customers are going to select AM even though it is inferior. If Spotify can tell the customers that they can get premium at $9.99 from their websites, will it not help them? Also, how many customers Spotify must have lost because of this Apple's anti-steering rule?
I agree with this. Without the music labels and artist, Spotify would be dead in a month. Artist need to be fairly compensated for their work. 1 cent a stream should be the minimum. Of course Spotify will complain to the EU that it’s not fair as well and demand music be provided free to them.
If these companies or even the EU was serious about competition, they would pour resources into building a modern OS to compete with Android and Apples OSs
Also, funny how the EU never fined Nokia or RIM for their phone dominance.
And they’re still stealing from artists.
They refuse to pay any artist who gets less than 1000 streams how is that legal?
If AM is so good, it should stop the anti-steering measures and compete fairly. It cannot have separate rules for itself and separate rules for other music streaming apps like Spotify. Nobody is saying Spotify is better than AM or otherwise. All they are asking for is to level the playing field. This is how Apple skews the playing fields for itself.Muzzled. Spotify is nearly $1 billion in the red even with an IPO and a $270/share current price tag and an absurdly inflated $53.23B evaluation with a P/E of - (meaning they are in the RED).
Spotify brings nothing to the table. Apple created the subscription Podcast industry via Steve Jobs in 2005 providing the first global revenue service, made the first truly viable Streaming Audio Music service that pleased global music production houses and now we have a company that is valued at over $53 billion and yet continues to operate further and further into the RED.
That mismanagement has nothing to do with Apple blocking them. The only thing keeping Spotify not being further in debt is their investments in other stocks/funds to offset their losses and prop up their assets.
Apple investing heavier into Sports Broadcasting, Film, Television series and Documentaries will only more than offset this $2 billion fine.
Apple is ramping up investments anywhere from $10-$20 billion annually in AI server gear [and not the vast bulk of it, if any at all, will be with Team Green], along side expanded investments in AI for on-device Neural Processing to interact with IoT across every hop of the Internet.
The next frontier of Networks deals with the stuff from AMD Pensando, Nokia, Palo Alto Networks and more must all be factored in those plans.
Stuff like the following Apple will have deeply connected interest in with collaborations seeing as 5G, but more importantly 6G requires patent access rights and licensing from Nokia, Vodafone, Ericsson and Samsung, etc.,
AMD Community Updates
The AMD Community is entering an exciting new phase—growing into a broader ecosystem of dedicated resources designed to better support and connect you.community.amd.com
While Nvidia is currently booming in their neck of the woods, most AI will be living in trafficking data safely, with low latency around the globe and across distributed and redundant back end cloud services for heavy computation and efficient throughput outcomes.
There is a reason AMD spent over $45 billion buying Pensando and Xilinx. It wasn't to catch up but to skate to where the puck will be. Apple never publicly announces large purchases from vendors for backend services. They never will. They just quietly keep purchasing and upgrading their entire iCloud global services.
Streaming Networks the world over, to billions of devices will need end-to-end AI to keep those services running smoothly. Apple will partner with industry leaders in networking to make sure their end-to-end user experience remains the best.
Stuff like this from Nokia is just beginning to roll out in 2024.
FastMile 5G mmWave FWA Receiver | Nokia.com
Put 5G mmWave to work for your Fixed Wireless Access broadband servicewww.nokia.com
These will be all over large metropolitan areas including down to mid-size cities.
This ‘fine' gets fans of Spotify orgasmic but it's like a rain drop to the bigger picture.
Timeline - Time to Play Fair
www.timetoplayfair.com
They need money, and they found a loophole that helps them get it easy.
I doubt it. Apple will keep whining that the EU is taking away its toys and keeps crying Ha ha.
When alternative app stores are allowed, then we will know how much maintaining the app store costs.
They are doing the exact same they did when they started. It’s Spotify and the EU who are changing the rules.If AM is so good, it should stop the anti-steering measures and compete fairly. It cannot have separate rules for itself and separate rules for other music streaming apps like Spotify. Nobody is saying Spotify is better than AM or otherwise. All they are asking for is to level the playing field. This is how Apple skews the playing fields for itself.
Timeline - Time to Play Fair
Perhaps the Droids are bored so try come to this garden to try to make a mess and keep distracted from their boring lives.
I respectfully disagree with the thought that they could have survived as a company on their desktop business and/or a mobile web app. It’s truly wishful thinking that they wouldn’t have gone chapter 11 without the iPhone.
What makes you think it could not have been larger if Apple had not muzzled Spotify? Spotify has clearly explained why it is complaining. Easy read.
Timeline - Time to Play Fair
www.timetoplayfair.com
They will look like even bigger fools when the decision is reversed on appeal.
I guess you did not read the attachment. Please read it and find out how Apple has been changing the rules.
Ha!
Which one do you believe is true:
- Apple pays record labels more than required out of the goodness of their hearts.
- Apple is worse at negotiating than Spotify.
- Apple doesn't have free tier. Free/ad-supported music streaming services pay less per stream than subscription services.
Only time I have been happy with my stock going down.
Apple will get what they deserve and I approve even it cost me money.
One thing I love more than money is when greed get its punishment.
Apple will get what they deserve and I approve even it cost me money.
One thing I love more than money is when greed get its punishment.
Don't know where you are from. In the EU, the DMA specifies some companies as Gatekeepers. For now, Apple is one of them. The EU is concentrating on them for now. The definition of Gatekeeper could change later and more companies might be brought into the net. Once that is done, all these might come into the picture. This is the scenario in the EU. If you are from the EU, you might have to wait. If you are not from the EU, I encourage you to talk to your government and ask them for similar or more stringent provisions. In fact, you can do that even if you are from the EU.
I don't think you know what muzzling means either. If anyone can be called a monopoly, it's Spotify. Apple is a distant non-competitor in fourth place, yet they're being hit with anti-competitive practices. When governments go after monopolies, it's usually the top dogs they go after, not the guy who didn't even place. The only reason they went after Apple is pure protectionism. They want to protect their EU companies against competition. The ruling is a surprise to nobody who understands politics. Fairness is never the issue, though it's always the mask. Spotify greased some palms, plain and simple.What makes you think it could not have been larger if Apple had not muzzled Spotify? Spotify has clearly explained why it is complaining. Easy read.
Timeline - Time to Play Fair
Europe suffers from this protectionism and nanny state policies by crushing EU innovation. Nothing of note comes out of the EU while most innovation comes out of the United States. People in the EU may feel more protected and coddled, but it's at the cost of losing innovation. Everything they do discourages risk taking because anyone who does gets slapped down.
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Not true.
Apple suffers setback in fight against EU order to pay £11bn tax bill in Ireland
Top adviser to European court of justice says ruling three years ago in tech giant’s favour should be set aside
Apple has to pay for research and development of hardware and software, software maintenance, parts, profit, legal fees, labor, and more from the price of hardware. Those free software updates aren't free on both sides.
We don't pay for the App Store through our devices. We pay for it through our purchases on the App Store.