Technology
Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 4:11 pm EDT
Key Points
- The European Commission announces that Apple’s iMessage and Microsoft’s Bing and Edge browsers will not be designated as “gatekeepers” under EU digital competition laws, closing an investigation into the matter.
- This decision is seen as a victory for Apple, particularly regarding iMessage, which has faced criticism from Android users due to compatibility issues, and it means that Apple is not required to open up its messaging infrastructure to competitors.
- Despite this ruling, both Apple and Microsoft will still be treated as gatekeepers under other EU regulations, such as Apple’s App Store and Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform, according to a previous ruling in September 2023.
The European Commission announced its decision to not designate Apple’s iMessage messaging service and Microsoft’s Bing and Edge search browsers as “gatekeepers” under the European Union’s strict digital competition laws, effectively closing an investigation into this concern. This decision marks a victory for Apple, particularly regarding iMessage, which has faced criticism from Android users due to compatibility issues. The ruling means that Apple is not obliged to open up its messaging infrastructure to alternative producers or competitors like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal, or Telegram. Users have long expressed frustration over the green bubble distinction for messages from non-Apple users versus blue bubbles for iMessage users, which has been limited to iPhone and other Apple device users. Similarly, Microsoft’s Bing, Edge browsers, and Microsoft Advertising won’t be subjected to EU competition restrictions. However, both companies remain designated as gatekeepers under other EU regulations, such as Apple’s App Store and Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform, according to a previous ruling in September 2023. The EU’s Digital Markets Act, in effect since November 2022, imposes strict requirements on large technology platform companies, with a focus on designated gatekeepers like Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance. Despite these developments, concerns linger among some publishers and technology firms regarding the engagement of these tech giants with the industry, with recent moves such as Apple’s opening up of its App Store for third-party developers potentially disrupting its traditional revenue model.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/13/apple-imessage-microsoft-bing-wont-count-as-gatekeepers-under-eu-dma.html
