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FTC to take close look at loosened App Store rules?

updated 01:15 pm EDT, Fri September 10, 2010

Apple move may be in response to gov't. pressure


Apple's policy reversal on third-party development tools for iOS may yet draw close checks from the Federal Trade Commission, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. The FTC has until now been investigating whether or not an earlier decision -- to block third-party tools -- was unfair, particularly against Adobe and developers cross-compiling from Flash. The technology makes it easier to deploy apps for multiple platforms at the same time, including chief iOS rival Android.

Although sources say it is unclear whether or not the restored developer freedom is a response to FTC pressure, it may nevertheless be a necessary move to compete with Android. Phones based on the platform are expected to outsell iPhones this year. The Android Market is continuing to grow, and imposes fewer restrictions than the App Store for submitting apps; some developers are reportedly choosing to launch for Android first, since they can start taking in money while waiting for approval from Apple.

A related threat is coming in the form of Android tablets, which should soon challenge the iPad. In this regard the issue is tied partly to magazines and e-books, which may be far more attractive to publish on the iPad if they can be distributed on similar Android devices at the same time. Tools in Adobe's Creative Suite 5 also make it easier to convert industry-standard print layouts into interactive form.





by MacNN Staff

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industry, Android, Flash, FTC, App Store, Apple

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  1. Parky

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Oct 1999

    +1
    09/10, 02:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    Android will sell more!

    It's sort of obvious that Android will sell more than Apple as it is being loaded FOR FREE my masses of manufacturers. Yet another case of Google unfairly competing by giving away software.

    Anyone remember what happened to Netscape when MS gave Explorer away for free?

    It is Google who should be investigated for distorting the market and wiping out competition by unfair means (free software).

  1. Flying Meat

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2007

    +3
    09/10, 02:28pm | report spam | Reply |

    Free isn't a problem

    for Google, since they don't control the market beyond the quality of their software. They do not refuse to provide that software if a given company doesn't commit to a quantity, so that is not an issue either.

  1. gmsquires

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2009

    +1
    09/10, 02:32pm | report spam | Reply |

    Unamed sources FUD

    Again why are you reporting based on unamed sources? This is tantamount to spreading FUD/rumor, or out an out lying by someone unless anything that is being stated can be verified. Just to spread a little FUD myself, perhapes a little bird told me that this is being fueled by Google and or Adobe just to get back at Apple.

  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    -3
    09/10, 02:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    If the Feds keep stepping in, it will be

    nearly impossible for Apple to get an edge over competing platforms. If Apple tries to keep a closed platform, the Feds will just open it up. It appears they find Apple's tactics counter-productive to the mobile industry. You're right about Google being given away free as an anti-competitive tactic by Google but for some reason the Feds think that's OK. It should be rather easy to corner a market by flooding it with a free product for at least some period of time. Once the product is firmly rooted, then charge for it.

    Maybe the federal government has a reason for doing this. Yet, it allowed Microsoft to grab over 95% of the computer industry and basically looked the other way, which I find strange. Since every analyst seems to think that Android has already won the mobile wars, why should Android continue to gain more advantages. They're allowing Google the same advantages that Microsoft had. Even if iOS stayed completely closed, supposedly the outcome would remain the same. I'm puzzled.

    However, I don't want Apple to change its strategy, but continue to use top-tier branding as its main playing card. Customer loyalty and high quality will have to be enough. I guess there's no way Apple could develop a better search engine than Google's and somehow steal revenue from Google that way. Other than that, Apple is going to need to come up with some device that can't be duplicated by any other company which is probably impossible.

  1. mustango

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2008

    0
    09/10, 02:44pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    You can't win

    Keep the rules strict, the FTC investigates.
    Loosen the rules, the FTC investigates that too.
    Have we gone past the point where we can ever hope that the government just leaves us alone?

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -2
    09/10, 05:10pm | report spam | Reply |

    Um...

    Of course it's being investigated. If it is true there's an investigation into the "last" policy, they'd investigate the new one to see if it settles any of the issues they might have had with the old policy.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -3
    09/10, 05:13pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: If the Feds keep stepping in...

    nearly impossible for Apple to get an edge over competing platforms. If Apple tries to keep a closed platform, the Feds will just open it up. It appears they find Apple's tactics counter-productive to the mobile industry.

    Um, Apple has had closed platforms for years, covering computers, then music players, then phones. They haven't been forced to open it up.

    You're right about Google being given away free

    What? Google is being given away for free? Man, I need to get my hands on that. I want the search engine code myself, but maybe some of that google docs stuff too.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -5
    09/10, 05:21pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    OK, let's try this again....

    At most, all that was 'leaked' was that there was an investigation in progress. That's it. You people here seem to think that if there's an investigation, then that means they think apple is guilty and are just preparing how to s**** them and you over.

    The FTC probably does thousands and thousands of investigations a year, into all sorts of issues on fair trade. They investigate on complaints (which might be - gasp - competitors), but that's their job. To investigate accusations of unfair trade.

    But how many of those investigations lead to any type of discipline? And of those, how many actually lead to something like "You need to open up your device to allow Flash plug-ins"? Very, very few.

    But why let such things ruin all your angst over how the feds are out to get Apple. It's part of your burned in persecution complex. Apparently, from what I can tell, everyone is out to get Apple.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    09/10, 05:34pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: Android will sell more!

    Yet another case of Google unfairly competing by giving away software.

    Except Google doesn't own Android to give it away. They have their software they license out, but anyone can use Android the OS. It's just another Linux.

    Anyone remember what happened to Netscape when MS gave Explorer away for free?

    If Apple gave away a browser for free, you'd be praising them for seeing the importance of the internet and how giving away the browser was a master stroke. No concern for Netscape would exist.

    And MS wasn't the only one giving away their browser. And, sorry, Netscape killed themselves with Communicator 4. It used to be a good browser until they mashed that big conglomeration of c*** together.

    It is Google who should be investigated for distorting the market and wiping out competition by unfair means (free software).

    What competition is being wiped out? RIM still has their OS. Someone bought the WebOS for use along the way. Symbian is still around (and expected to be on a majority of phones for a while). WinMo is the only 'competitor' that is being run out. Are you seriously trying to say that MS is being unfairly treated?

    And it isn't like there's choice for the consumer. If you want a particular phone, you get the OS it comes with. It isn't like you have the choice of several OSes, and Google is driving that choice away (ala MS and windows).

    BTW, the iOS doesn't even count in here, since Apple doesn't license it to others. Since they don't compete in the market of mobileOS, they can't be harmed.

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