Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has targeted Apple in her latest effort to break up big technology companies.
In a video posted to X, Warren highlighted how the iPhone maker’s use of green texting is “ruining relationships.”
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“Green text on iPhone ruins relationships. That’s right, non-iPhone users are excluded from group texts everywhere, from sports team chats to birthday chats to vacation planning chats. They “And who’s to blame here? Apple,” she said. Said.
Warren is referring to the fact that when iPhone users text each other, they use Apple’s iMessage system, which displays messages inside blue bubbles. However, text from sources other than your iPhone will appear as a green bubble.
She said the practice is just one of the “dirty tactics” employed by the Cupertino-based technology company to “keep a stranglehold on the smartphone market.”
Monopoly on your smartphone?
Warren’s criticism of Apple goes beyond the green bubble issue. He also emphasized the company’s role in the smartphone industry.
“Apple has used its smartphone monopoly to lock Americans into its services and amass billions of dollars in profits,” she argued.
Apple certainly has a significant position in the US smartphone market, but perhaps not a complete monopoly. According to CounterPoint Research, Apple captured 62% of the US smartphone shipment market share in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Globally, Apple’s market power is not that great. According to a report by CounterPoint Research, in the same quarter Apple secured his 23% share in the global smartphone market.
Despite this, Apple runs a profitable business. The company reported net income of $33.9 billion for the fiscal quarter ended December 30, 2023.
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“It’s time to part.”
Warren’s criticism of Apple continues, saying, “Apple even cuts the bill every time you tap to pay, blocking a new app that would allow Android users to finally get blue text using iMessage. ” he said.
The app Warren mentioned, Beeper, allowed Android users to send messages to iPhone users via iMessage until Apple apparently shut it down.
Given these concerns, Warren emphasized the need for action: “Now is the time to break Apple’s monopoly.”
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Apple for “broad exclusionary practices.”
“Apple is undermining apps, products, and services that could reduce users’ dependence on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers. They use their monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, retailers, and others,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
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