Apple’s App Store can at times – if not always – look like an extremely hostile environment for developers – especially independent ones with little financial or other clout. And that is nothing new – it has been going on for years.
Apple’s “walled garden” method is no news to anybody at this point – in fact, it may even play into the “brand recognition” appeal that the tech behemoth enjoys.
But the New York Times thinks it’s newsworthy to report that Apple has now also “repeatedly” rejected an app produced by a fellow giant, Facebook.
And Apple has apparently been rejecting it from its online store multiple times now – “at least five” – starting in February.
Other than tech giants attempting to outwit each other in an extremely lucrative market, that of casual mobile game apps – where Apple had $15 billion in revenues in 2019 alone – what else might be happening here?
A potential violation of some anti-trust rules.
Then there’s Europe, where EU’s Commission just launched an investigation into Apple’s business practices when it comes to app developers and how those practices may or may not affect competition.
Other than that, back in the US, Basecamp software company is complaining that Apple banished its new email app for attempting to sell the product to customers outside Apple’s store, where the giant takes 30 percent from all sales.
Basecamp co-founder and CTO David Hansson said that the US Department of Justice spoke to him earlier this week, apparently regarding possible anti-trust behavior by Apple.
But Facebook is not the only fellow giant that is locking horns with Apple over its app store practices. Last year it was Spotify, who complained to the EU, accusing Apple of “taxing” its competing music streaming service by taking the 30 percent app store cut that applies not only to apps, but also services sold in the App Store.
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