Apple is facing scrutiny from US regulators for the first time, following accusations that the firm is monopolising its iPhone App Store. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has written to Apple, Google and AT&T, Apple’s exclusive carrier in the United States for the iPhone. Apple self-regulates its App Store, which sells software created by […]
Apple is facing scrutiny from US regulators for the first time, following accusations that the firm is monopolising its iPhone App Store. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has written to Apple, Google and AT&T, Apple’s exclusive carrier in the United States for the iPhone. Apple self-regulates its App Store, which sells software created by independent developers. The FFC move follows Apple’s decision to block Google’s ‘Voice’ app from its store last month.
Google Voice, already available on other smartphones, allows users to send and receive text messages via a single Google Voicephone number. In the letter, the FCC has also demanded to see details of which other applications have been blocked by Apple, and why. Apple, AT&T and Google are due to respond formally to the FCC this week. Apple declined to comment on its decision to ban the Google Voice application.
