Google and European telecom operators complain about iMessage exclusivity

Google and several of Europe’s largest telecom operators have sent a letter to the European Commission with a request to consider the status of Apple’s iMessage messenger, reports Financial Times. They demand that the regulator recognize that the exclusivity of the messenger for iOS device users is a direct violation of fair competition.

The letter sent to European Commissioner Thierry Breton was signed, among others, by the heads of Google, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telefonica. They all note that Apple pre-installs a messenger on its devices, which gives the company a competitive advantage. Only owners of iOS devices can use it, and when a user of an Android device joins the conversation, the chat switches to SMS exchange mode. This is noticeable due to the color of the messages themselves – they are repainted from blue to green. In addition, Android users do not have access to a number of functions from iMessage, and the quality of photos and videos sent through Apple’s built-in messenger is noticeably higher than when exchanging SMS.

Companies want iMessage to be recognized as a service like any other public messaging app, and its features to be available to all users. Mobile operators and Google consider the European Digital Markets Act. It came into force in May of this year, but will come into full effect from the beginning of next year. Law controls the activities of the world’s leading technology corporations, including both Apple and Alphabet Inc., one of the divisions of which is one of the authors of the current letter, Google.

Apple, during negotiations with the European Commission, insists that the new law has nothing to do with iMessage, since users do not pay for it, and the company’s devices can be used without it. In addition, the coverage of the built-in messenger, according to Apple, is much inferior to competitors’ products.

However, the European Commission notes that, albeit indirectly, iMessage helps Apple increase revenue, given its exclusivity for devices of the American company.

Consequently, iMessage is “an important element in expanding the Apple ecosystem,” the regulator believes.

The European Commission refused to comment on the letter from telecom operators and Google, noting that the investigation into this issue is ongoing, and its results should be presented no later than February 2024. Apple also declined to comment, citing an earlier statement: “iMessage is designed and marketed for consumer personal communications, and we look forward to explaining to the panel why iMessage goes beyond DMA.”

Kirill Sarkhanyants