EU Names Apple as Digital 'Gatekeeper' But Doesn't Yet Require iMessage to Support RCS

EU names 6 "gatekeepers" under Digital Markets Act, including Apple, but doesn't require iMessage to support RCS yet.
22 core platform services listed, but iMessage not included, so Apple avoids RCS mandate for now.
EU launching 5-month investigation into iMessage and Microsoft services to determine if they qualify under DMA.
If deemed a core platform, Apple would have until Aug 2024 to add RCS support to iMessage.
This comes after Google's "Get the Message" campaign pushed Apple to adopt RCS to "fix texting" between Android and iPhone.

androidcentral.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/5/2023

Tomorrow, the EU will decide whether Apple will have to support RCS messaging

The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) may force Apple to add support for RCS if iMessage is considered a "gatekeeper," potentially leading to the iPhone 15 series having a USB-C port and allowing developers to promote third-party in-app payment platforms.

9/5/2023

“We’re not ‘gatekeepers,’” Apple and Microsoft tell European Union

Apple and Microsoft are arguing with the European Union over the designation of their services, iMessage and Bing, as "gatekeepers" under new EU legislation aimed at regulating Big Tech.

9/6/2023

New EU laws aim to curb ‘gatekeeping’ by big tech companies

Tech giants like Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft must comply with new regulations set by the European Commission (EC) to allow users to remove preloaded apps and use alternative options, in order to maintain competition in the market or face penalties of up to 10% of their global turnover.

9/6/2023

Apple Stock And The EU's Digital Markets Act (NASDAQ:AAPL)

The EU has designated six tech giants, including Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft, as "gatekeepers" subject to the Digital Market Act, aiming to promote fairness, competition, and transparency in core digital services. This regulation could have a wide-ranging impact on Apple's services business, potentially forcing changes to the App Store's revenue share model, increasing competition and pricing pressure for Apple Music and iCloud, and altering revenue sharing agreements with third-party subscriptions on iOS. The DMA threatens to weaken Apple's control and profitability across its services segment.

9/11/2023

WhatsApp Adding 'Third-Party Chats' to Enable Messaging Between Apps for EU Law

WhatsApp is preparing to comply with European law on messaging interoperability by introducing a new feature called Third-Party Chats, while Apple is pushing back on claims that iMessage should be subject to the same antitrust law.

9/21/2023

Google Resurfaces Get The Message Ads Urging Apple to Adopt RCS Messaging

Google is renewing its campaign to pressure Apple into adopting the RCS messaging protocol, highlighting the drawbacks of Apple's SMS-based iMessage system and advocating for a better texting experience for all users.

Topics

Posted 9/8/2023, 12:25:55 AM

EU Names Apple as Digital 'Gatekeeper' But Doesn't Yet Require iMessage to Support RCS

EU names 6 "gatekeepers" under Digital Markets Act, including Apple, but doesn't require iMessage to support RCS yet.
22 core platform services listed, but iMessage not included, so Apple avoids RCS mandate for now.
EU launching 5-month investigation into iMessage and Microsoft services to determine if they qualify under DMA.
If deemed a core platform, Apple would have until Aug 2024 to add RCS support to iMessage.
This comes after Google's "Get the Message" campaign pushed Apple to adopt RCS to "fix texting" between Android and iPhone.

androidcentral.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/5/2023

Tomorrow, the EU will decide whether Apple will have to support RCS messaging

9/5/2023

“We’re not ‘gatekeepers,’” Apple and Microsoft tell European Union

Apple and Microsoft are arguing with the European Union over the designation of their services, iMessage and Bing, as "gatekeepers" under new EU legislation aimed at regulating Big Tech.

9/6/2023

New EU laws aim to curb ‘gatekeeping’ by big tech companies

9/6/2023

Apple Stock And The EU's Digital Markets Act (NASDAQ:AAPL)

9/11/2023

WhatsApp Adding 'Third-Party Chats' to Enable Messaging Between Apps for EU Law

9/21/2023

Google Resurfaces Get The Message Ads Urging Apple to Adopt RCS Messaging