How long can Apple dodge the antitrust bullet?
If you ask me, Apple is getting dangerously close to putting itself in the line of fire from an antitrust bullet. And when it comes, it'll have nothing to do with the iPod or Mac OS, but instead it's the way Apple manages the App Store.
Three little words that Apple have been using to give certain app developers the brush off lately - "duplicates existing functionality". These could very well be what pulls a load of antitrust hassles to the company's head.
I've heard from several developers who have had Apps rejected because Apple deems that it "duplicates existing functionality" and it's hard for me to see this as anything but a way to stifle competition. Apple prides itself on good design, and it's true that many of the built-in apps on the iPhone and iPod touch are pretty good. But that said, I'd love to see someone else have a go at developing a browser, an email client, a way to manage music or any of the other apps. Who knows, they might do a good job of them. It seems to me that Apple is being arrogant in the extreme in assuming that no one else could do a better job of the built-in applications.
Apple's excuse for enforcing the "duplicates existing functionality" rule is that duplicate functions could confuse users. This is a pretty lame excuse if you ask me, because if you buy into it then you've be all for a similar lock-in on Windows and Mac OS. Also, since users would be involved in the downloading, installing and using of these apps, it's hard to see how people might be confused.
It's a lame reason to lock down the platform.
Let's take a look at the current circumstances that signal the perfect storm for antitrust:
- iPhone has become the dominant handset
- The App Store is the single source of apps
- Apple gets to approve all apps before they are sold
- Apple gets a cut from all sales
To go the extra mile and use (abuse?) the approval process to stifle competition is just crazy. Using the approval process to protect users from dangerous apps, and to make sure apps are rated appropriately to protect younger iPhone users is one thing, using it to gain dominance for a browser or email client is another.
Apple is painting a huge bulls-eye on its back with its current App Store policy, and without radical change, it's only a matter of time until someone decides to do something about it