U.S. Antitrust Legislation Would Require Users to Be Able to Delete All Pre-Installed Apple Apps [Updated]

[Khedron]

The main selling point of the iPhone is everything works right out of the box. I don’t see what’s wrong with that. The crap pc vendors pre install on their computers, crap that’s unusable, half baked and actually impairs computer’s performance, on the other hand, it’s actually harmful to users. Legislate that.

No it isn’t. All phones work right out of the box.

You buy an iPhone because of the quality of the user experience during the years of use, not the experience during the first few minutes of booting it up.

Whenever I get a new iPhone it takes hours to get it set up properly with all my apps and data. In fact setup of an iPhone typically takes longer than other phones because of the need to sign in with an Apple ID and register the device etc.

If setup took an extra few minutes because apps like Apple TV and Fitness didn’t come pre-installed and I had to click an icon to get them then I wouldn’t cry that my entire experience was now ruined.

 

[iOS Geek]

Perhaps it’s just me… but with all of the problems and issues in the World this is more important? Really? Like WTF…

That’s the US government for ya.

 

[no_idea]

Seems like anything those old birds in Congress touch turns to a big pile of…

 

[DotCom2]

Then Apple should just make a "cluster App" that's titled, "All the iPhone apps that used to be preinstalled on your iPhone when purchased for ease of installation, convenience and best experience." jk

 

[vinegarshots]

Apple is so complacent lately with their market dominance that it's causing their quality to slip. I've found usability bugs in iOS that go unfixed until the next iOS rolls around, and it surely isn't because Apple doesn't have the resources. They don't have the drive or the necessity. Honestly, at this point, if there isn't some kind of forced competition on multiple levels, I expect Apple's products to continue to decline, because it seems clear that the internal company motivators aren't working very well.

 

[subi257]

But this law isn't for the likes of you or I that know better, it's to protect the millions of people who don't know better. Big companies need Government oversight, do you really think it would work out well for us all if they were left unchecked?

So we will get laws for the people that don't know better....written by people that don't know better.....They are most likely still trying to figure out their "you've got mail" AOL.

 

[Nick05]

Just to save people the time spent in coming up with another extremely asinine comparison to cars or McDonalds, ask yourself if the companies you’re making the analogy with are part of a duopoly. If the answer is no, the comparison is stupid and completely useless.

I agree with you to a point. It has become a duopoly or is close. There was a dominant player in the smartphone market for a long time, you may remember the name Blackberry, and there was competition from Palm, Microsoft, and probably a few smaller ones. Apple decided there might be a market for an alternative choices and released the iPhone. neither before or after the launch of the iPhone did they buyout the competition or force anyone to buy or use their product. Their goal was to simply gain 1% of the marketshare. Google may have been a little shadier with their tactics and did buyout some phone makers, but they were already making the phones on android. I cannot think of any anti-competitive did either to force RIM, Microsoft, or Palm to collapse in the smartphone market. It was primarily based on people not buying those products any longer because a preferably alternative was available.

Walmart and Target basically have a similar situation in the US, but you could make the argument that Walmart did bully manufacturers into special pricing and strategically worked to destroy the competition. The government than helped kill the competition during COVID lockdowns that forced small businesses closed and allowed these large retailers to remain open. more fair comparison?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

As I’ve always figured, just make Apple ownership it a lottery for US customers. At 40 million, no more devices ship to the US, no more signups allowed, etc. The government can even administrate an exchange for those that don’t want devices to sell their place to someone that does.

 

[parada6]

It’s like buying a house with shining furnitures, that’s what Apple is offering. To ban this? It’s just crazy!!

 

[vipergts2207]

Umm isnt is Apple's phone to do whatever the hell they want with it? I dont believe there is any law that says 'If you make a computer device, you HAVE to open it up to everyone'. If they shut down iOS development to the outside world, would they get sued for not letting everybody write their own crappy apps too?

Isn't it Standard Oil's oil to do whatever the hell they want with it? Isn't it AT&T's telephone network to do whatever the hell they want with it?

See how your argument has no merit in the light of anti-trust laws?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Just to save people the time spent in coming up with another extremely asinine comparison to cars or McDonalds, ask yourself if the companies you’re making the analogy with are part of a duopoly. If the answer is no, the comparison is stupid and completely useless.

Edit: A lot of 'disagrees' but not a single statement on how I'm wrong. Quite telling.

McDonald’s and Burger King are part of the McDonald’s and Burger King Duopoly. No one other than McDonald’s and Burger King can sell Whoppers and/or Big Macs.

 

[Ethosik]

Microsoft was almost broken up because they installed IE on Windows PCs 25 years ago. What Apple, Microsoft, and Google have gotten away with the past 15 years or so is incredibly far beyond that.

This legislation makes total sense and I support it.

Monopolies are a bad thing folks.

Please look at the Microsoft case before commenting. They bullied Netscape AND OEMs. It’s not “just” because IE is pre-installed.

 

[wirefire]

I get what lawmakers are after here and I support the spirit of what they are trying to do, but the total lack of understanding of how technology and computers work leaves them looking very inept at best. The inclusion of default apps isn't the problem, it is the inability to change or remove that app when you want something else. They need to define the 3 levels of the device. The hardware, and what it is and can be done with it. the OS level that is the software that provides the application interface, and then the applications that perform tasks for the user. I am assuming they take issue when a company has control of all three layers and does give consumers a way to replace part of that.

Now here is where that gets "tricky". there are other devices out there that do this but are not phones or computers in a traditional sense. Consider something like the Infotainment system in your car. the hardware, software and "apps" (like the radio interface) are all developed by the auto manufacturer. you don't have any "choice" about what apps are installed and how they are installed... so in effect that could fall under this. TVs for example, that do not run "android" but have their own software per se, could have a channel tuning function viewed as an "app" so the basic function of the device is a no go. Game consoles would also be prime candidates to fall under this as well.

 

[tubular]

Microsoft was almost broken up because they installed IE on Windows PCs 25 years ago.

If by "almost broken up" you mean "never even close to being in danger of being broken up."

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is downright stupid. David Cicilline is an idiot.

 

[rbwca]

Stupid idea - the only reason to buy an iphone is for the Apple apps on it. If i wanted Google Apps, I'd buy an android phone

 

[djphat2000]

Microsoft was almost broken up because they installed IE on Windows PCs 25 years ago. What Apple, Microsoft, and Google have gotten away with the past 15 years or so is incredibly far beyond that.

This legislation makes total sense and I support it.

Monopolies are a bad thing folks.

So when I go to buy a car, say it's a Honda. Should I be able to at time of purchase get completely different interior seats from another company? Say the engine, should that be swappable just because a bureaucrat says it should be up to the customer to pick each and every thing available, and those other options just have to work as well? So that all companies can work with all companies? Da HECK!?

 

[vipergts2207]

McDonald’s and Burger King are part of the McDonald’s and Burger King Duopoly. No one other than McDonald’s and Burger King can sell Whoppers and/or Big Macs.

There are a substantial other number of places to get a burger out there actually. And you realize that your argument doesn't make sense here? Nobody is asking that other companies be allowed to make an 'iPhone' or a 'Galaxy'.

 

[FindingAvalon]

Isn't it Standard Oil's oil to do whatever the hell they want with it? Isn't it AT&T's telephone network to do whatever the hell they want with it?

See how your argument has no merit in the light of anti-trust laws?

The difference that makes the difference is that Apple can only be said to have a monopoly when it comes to their App Store.

 

[subi257]

This is some Android fanboy in the antitrust office trolling Apple.

And the Android phones can't come with anything either.....this should apply to Samsung, Google, HTC, Etc

 

[Havoc035]

Next step, OS choice because you know, you absolutely have to be able to install Windows on iPhones. The step after that, only the phone frame is shipped and you get to pick your own components and assemble it.

 

[subi257]

Apple is so complacent lately with their market dominance that it's causing their quality to slip. I've found usability bugs in iOS that go unfixed until the next iOS rolls around, and it surely isn't because Apple doesn't have the resources. They don't have the drive or the necessity. Honestly, at this point, if there isn't some kind of forced competition on multiple levels, I expect Apple's products to continue to decline, because it seems clear that the internal company motivators aren't working very well.

And, once it declines to the point of being Sh***y will you switch to Android?

 

[JOLoughlin]

I really think a lot of these politicians are bored of solving real problems.

 

[easy4lif]

Meh, it would prob take me and anyone of average intelligence 7 minutes to download and install all the Apple apps again. This bill would only effect android, Amazon, and Microsoft users. Anyone with an iDevice I’d gladly help get those installed again!

 

[jigzaw]

Microsoft was almost broken up because they installed IE on Windows PCs 25 years ago. What Apple, Microsoft, and Google have gotten away with the past 15 years or so is incredibly far beyond that.

This legislation makes total sense and I support it.

Monopolies are a bad thing folks.

It makes as much sense as saying Ford must sell cars without doors, windows, or brake pedals and offer the customer the option to buy those parts from Chevy, Toyota, and Honda. It's silly.

These apps are basic functions of the device itself. Imagine buying a phone with no dialer, texting app, app store app, camera app, etc etc and being told you must plug your phone into a computer and choose from a myriad of third-party apps, most of which will be either full of ads or subscription-based. It's a ludicrous suggestion.

Apple does not have a monopoly on cellular phones. They have a minority share in the market and there are gobs of other choices from Galaxies to Pixels etc etc. This legislation would destroy the whole reason people who like iPhones choose iPhones.

And I also thought the IE/Windows thing was ludicrous too. At that time, other companies were charging for browsers and Microsoft offered a one-stop shop of an OS that had its own browser installed. A total win for the consumer and it did not in any way stop anyone from going to a competitor if they wanted. That lawsuit only served to help Netscape, Prodigy, and AOL to keep collecting subscription money from consumers for a product that should come with the computer as browsing the internet is a basic function of computers. If anything it prolonged the 90's era of subscription/curated internet portals and stifled innovation. It's also obviously applied inconsistently as Macs come with Safari and PC's still come with Microsoft's own browser anyway... so what was the point of all that silliness?