Apple App Store now faces U.K.'s latest antitrust investigation after many developers complained about its rumored anti-competitive behavior. This is not the first time that Apple received such an allegation.
Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address at the Apple 2012 World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Moscone West on June 11, 2012 in San Francisco, California. Apple unveiled a slew of new hardware and software updates at the company's annual developer conference which runs through June 15.
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According to Independent UK's latest report, the United Kingdom regulators' new investigation will look into Apple App Store's behavior if it really abuses its power and making unfair activities that would prevent healthy competition against other developers.
However, U.K.'s CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) said no final decision yet since the new antitrust investigation has just started. The agency added that it is still unclear if the tech giant's App Store really broke the law.
"Millions of us use apps every day to check the weather, play a game or order a takeaway," said Andrea Coscelli, CMA's chief executive, via CNET's latest report.
Other regulators accusing investigating Apple
Aside from the U.K. regulators, the United States' antitrust regulators are also investigating the rumored unfair behavior of the Apple App Store. On the other hand, CMA didn't disclose the developers' names that accused the tech giant manufacturer. But, some developers are openly accusing Apple recently, such as Epic Games, the game developer of the popular shooting game "Fortnite."
A person walks by an Apple Store on April 23, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Analysts believe that Apple Inc. will report their first quarterly loss in nearly a decade as the company prepares to report first quarter earnings today after the closing bell.
CMA confirmed that anonymous developers complained that the Apple App Store's way of getting apps onto iPhones and iPads is unfair. Why? Because Apple's terms and conditions state that iPhones and iPads can only download applications available in the company's official App Store. This means that these devices will not allow third-party apps.
"Our ongoing examination into digital markets has already uncovered some worrying trends. We know that businesses, as well as consumers, may suffer real harm if anti-competitive practices by big tech go unchecked," explained Coscelli.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
