Google and leading mobile carriers advocate for European regulation of Apple’s iMessage platform
The Impact of the European Union’s Digital Market Act on Apple’s iMessage
Pushing for Change
The battle to make Apple’s iMessage compatible with all devices has been ongoing with little progress to show for it. However, Google and other mobile operators are now leveraging the European Union’s Digital Market Act (DMA) to push for change. This law, set to take effect in 2024, mandates that “gatekeepers” must not show preference to their own systems or restrict third-party interoperability. Gatekeepers include companies like Google’s parent company Alphabet, Apple, Samsung, and others.
Investigation and Arguments
The European Commission is currently investigating whether iMessage’s current setup violates the DMA. Apple argues that its smaller scale and optional use make it exempt from the law. On the other hand, companies like Google, Vodafone, and Orange argue that iMessage should be considered “enriched” messaging exclusive to Apple users.
Apple’s Defense and Potential Changes
Apple’s iMessage subtly rewards users for communicating within the Apple ecosystem. In a bid to keep iMessage exclusive to Apple users, the company defends its platform as designed for personal communication. If successful, changes to iMessage could be the latest mandate enforced by the European Commission, following Apple’s decision to remove the lightning charger from the new iPhone 15 to comply with the law requiring all new mobile devices sold in the EU to have a USB-C port by the end of 2024.
