Sunday, 28 Apr On this day ...
Image: Fat Finger
Q1. The Justice Department and fifteen states (including ones governed by Republicans such as TN and ND, and by Democrats including CA and NY) sued Apple on anti-trust grounds Thursday, accusing the company of monopolizing the US smartphone market.
It is estimated that 135m Americans own iPhones, a 63% share. The government alleges the company tries to keep users from switching by making it so competing apps and phones don't integrate well with iPhones.
If Justice Department prevails, it has the right to ask for changes to Apple’s business practices and/or to order the break up of the company.
Which would you like to see Apple ordered to do, if either?
It is estimated that 135m Americans own iPhones, a 63% share. The government alleges the company tries to keep users from switching by making it so competing apps and phones don't integrate well with iPhones.
If Justice Department prevails, it has the right to ask for changes to Apple’s business practices and/or to order the break up of the company.
Which would you like to see Apple ordered to do, if either?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Change practices
47%
44%
50%
34%
42%
57%
51%
45%
48%
46%
Break up
6%
7%
6%
8%
7%
5%
4%
7%
9%
5%
Both
20%
17%
21%
16%
23%
22%
26%
20%
18%
18%
Neither
22%
28%
18%
35%
21%
13%
19%
24%
21%
25%
Don't know
2%
2%
3%
2%
4%
2%
0%
1%
3%
3%
Don't care
2%
2%
2%
4%
3%
1%
0%
2%
2%
3%
Q2. The Justice Department alleges Apple purposely kept the texting experience between Apple and non-Apple users substandard so people wouldn't switch to lower-priced phones from competitors.
The lawsuit notes Apple CEO Tim Cook’s 2022 comment to a questioner who complained that he couldn’t send his mother videos because of Apple’s messaging quirks to Android phones. Cook said: "Buy your mom an iPhone."
The lawsuit further alleges the green bubbles that show an Android user’s messages signal that other smartphones are lower quality than the iPhone.
Have you personally been frustrated by problems messaging between Apple and Android phones?
The lawsuit notes Apple CEO Tim Cook’s 2022 comment to a questioner who complained that he couldn’t send his mother videos because of Apple’s messaging quirks to Android phones. Cook said: "Buy your mom an iPhone."
The lawsuit further alleges the green bubbles that show an Android user’s messages signal that other smartphones are lower quality than the iPhone.
Have you personally been frustrated by problems messaging between Apple and Android phones?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, blame Apple
48%
45%
48%
41%
49%
52%
61%
59%
46%
27%
Yes, blame Android
4%
5%
4%
4%
3%
5%
10%
6%
1%
2%
Yes, blame other
4%
6%
3%
4%
2%
5%
10%
5%
3%
2%
No
39%
40%
40%
46%
41%
33%
16%
26%
45%
63%
Don't know
4%
3%
5%
3%
3%
5%
3%
4%
4%
5%
Don't care
1%
0%
1%
1%
2%
0%
0%
0%
1%
1%
Q3. The government also alleges Apple prevents access to cloud-based games, competitors to its iWallet, and "super apps" such as WeChat so that the company can keep consumers using its in-house apps.
The government says preventing access to third-party apps kills off competition, which ultimately harms the public with inferior products and higher prices.
Apple contends they have every right to determine what apps make it on to its platform, and that exercising that right allows them to keep their product standards highs.
Which do you think has the better argument?
The government says preventing access to third-party apps kills off competition, which ultimately harms the public with inferior products and higher prices.
Apple contends they have every right to determine what apps make it on to its platform, and that exercising that right allows them to keep their product standards highs.
Which do you think has the better argument?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Apple
32%
36%
28%
44%
34%
22%
25%
32%
32%
38%
Government
53%
50%
56%
39%
48%
64%
70%
48%
54%
43%
Don't know
11%
8%
14%
8%
13%
14%
5%
13%
11%
15%
Don't care
4%
6%
2%
8%
5%
1%
0%
7%
4%
5%
In 2019, 16% said they thought Apple should be broken up on anti-trust grounds. Of the 10 companies we asked about, this received the 2nd least votes, ahead of only General Electric with 15%. Others were
54% Facebook (also owner of Instagram, Whatsapp, Oculus VR)
50% Alphabet (parent of Google, YouTube, Android)
48% AT&T (also owner of HBO, CNN, Turner Broadcasting DC Films, Cartoon Network, Fandango...)
37% Amazon (also owner of Twitch, Whole Foods, Zappos, Audible)
28% JP Morgan Chase
25% Berkshire Hathaway (owner of GEICO, Dairy Queen, BNSF Railway, Lubrizol, Duracell, Benjamin Moore, Clayton Homes, Fruit of the Loom, Pilot Flying J...) %
20% Microsoft (also owner of LinkedIn, Skype, GitHub, Xbox)
19% ExxonMobil
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