On: Antitrust inquiry into Apple over Section 3.3.1

[pedalpete]

To further your comment danh, Apple has an absolute monopoly on App Stores on iPhone devices. I can't get an app onto the device without going through them.

If i have an xbox, I can get a game from Best Buy or Amazon, etc. Even though those are closed systems.

If I have an iPhone, I can only get apps from the Apple store.

I'm not positive if this is unique to Apple in the mobile space or not. I know I can get blackberry apps from anywhere, same with WinMo. I'm not sure about Android or Palm.

[pohl → pedalpete]

Apple has an absolute monopoly on App Stores on iPhone devices.

That may not qualify as a "relevant market" for determining monopoly status. (The Conclusions of Law from the MS v DOJ case makes interesting reading along these lines).

http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f218600/218633.htm

Whether this zone of commercial activity actually qualifies as a market...depends on whether it includes all products "reasonably interchangeable by consumers for the same purposes." ..."Because the ability of consumers to turn to other suppliers restrains a firm from raising prices above the competitive level, the definition of the 'relevant market' rests on a determination of available substitutes."

So if a plaintiff were to try to argue that Apple is the sole supplier of App Stores for iPhones, it would become germane that nothing is charged for access to this service, and that if access became expensive consumers could flee to other smart phones.

[vluft → pedalpete]

If you have an xbox, all games must still be approved by Microsoft before they can be sold.