Pointing out that Apple is a duopoly and not a monopoly isn't a compelling argument. Especially so when the other half of the duopoly engages in the same sort of abusive behaviors.
>When you're in a Walmart, you can only buy from Walmart. Nothing is stopping you from going to Costco.
The laws of physics are not anti-competitive. What would be an anti-trust issue is if Walmart took steps to prevent their customers from shopping at Costco.
Apple is stopping iPhone owners from going to the equivalent of Costco by banning competing app stores. That's a pretty clear violation of U.S. antitrust laws.
> What would be an anti-trust issue is if Walmart took steps to prevent their customers from shopping at Costco.
Apple is not preventing you from choosing to buy an Android phone.
Owning an iPhone is like being in a Walmart. You can either buy from the store or go somewhere else. Walmart-made products will be cheaper in the store. You can always go somewhere else. You can make the choice on whether you want to go to Walmart or Costco before, during, or after your stint in either.
>Apple is not preventing you from choosing to buy an Android phone.
They're preventing you from buying iOS apps from anyone but Apple.
>Owning an iPhone is like being in a Walmart. You can either buy from the store or go somewhere else.
It's not and you can't. There's nothing inherent that forces you to only buy software from Apple because you own an Apple device. And you can't go somewhere else to buy your software because Apple blocks that.
Apple is not preventing you from buying iOS apps from anyone but Apple. Spotify and other companies are preventing people from buying directly from iOS apps by not offering the option for users to purchase their product with in app purchase API. Spotify uses Apples resources to distribute their apps but then complain about it. Anyone who is distributing an app on behalf of someone else is going to charge for the service and why shouldn't they. IMO the question isn't should they charge it's how much is appropriate? And people already have a right to install whatever software they want on their device at their own risk as it should be.
“iOS apps” are not an industry. “Smartphone apps” are. You can always go to another store, e.g. get an Android phone. Spotify is not obligated to distribute on the iPhone. They are not being locked out of the industry by choosing not to distribute on the iPhone.
Pointing out that Apple is a duopoly and not a monopoly isn't a compelling argument. Especially so when the other half of the duopoly engages in the same sort of abusive behaviors.