US senators question Apple and Google on app store dominance
Reuters
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Other app makers have complained that mandatory revenue sharing for sales of digital goods and strict inclusion rules amount to anticompetitive behaviour A panel of US Senators questioned officials from Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google on Wednesday about the dominance of their mobile app stores and whether the companies abuse their power at the expense of smaller competitors.
Amy Klobuchar, the top Senate Democrat on antitrust issues, said Apple and Google can use their power to “exclude or suppress apps that compete with their own products” and “charge excessive fees that affect competition.”
The hearing came just a day after Apple introduced AirTags, a device that users can attach to items and track using an iPhoneâs âFind Myâ software. AirTags has largely been seen as a direct copy of Samsungâs SmartTag and Tile Bluetooth trackers, which were founded 10 years ago.
Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic senator and the chair of the antitrust subcommittee, said Apple and Google have used their power to âexclude or suppress apps that compete with their own productsâ and âcharge excessive fees that affect competitionâ.
âThe only way apps can get to consumers is through one of these two platforms, which are owned by just two companies,â she said. âThe best thing to do here would be to admit that we have a huge monopoly problem across the board, and put in some stiffer rules and standards to address it.â
The hearing brought together representatives from Apple and Google and several of their most outspoken critics, including Match Group, which owns dating site Tinder; Tile, which makes devices that help users find lost objects and faces new competition from Apple s AirTag technology, and streaming music service Spotify.
The hearing comes as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working on updates to the antitrust laws that could better account for the power a few tech giants hold over many digital markets. That includes the ability of platforms such as Apple and Google to manage the main distribution platform for apps while increasingly hawking their own competing products.
U.S. senators question Apple and Google on app store dominance
Reuters | Apr 22, 2021 12:10 AM EDT
Apple unveils AirTag, in this still image from the keynote video of a special event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California (Photo : Apple Inc./via REUTERS.)
A panel of U.S. senators questioned officials from Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc s Google on Wednesday about the dominance of their mobile app stores and whether the companies abuse their power at the expense of smaller competitors.
Amy Klobuchar, the top Senate Democrat on antitrust issues, said Apple and Google can use their power to exclude or suppress apps that compete with their own products and charge excessive fees that affect competition.
Spotify and Tinder executives accuse Apple of power grab with app rules mybroadband.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mybroadband.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.