In an hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, Jared Sine, top lawyer for dating app company Match Group was accused by Google of threat to Match by phone in the evening prior to. Sine explained that Google’s problem was that Match which is the owner of apps like Tinder and Hinge was announcing during an earlier earnings conference that it would be able to pay the fees charged by the Google app store however, Match changed its mind in its prepared testimony for Wednesday’s hearing. “We’re all terrified is the truth senator. We’re thankful that you’re listening the people today,” stated Sine, adressing senator.In Senate Spotify Match Apple, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota who was the judge at the hearing. “And I’m sure it’s the Justice Department is too,” Klobuchar replied. The incident exemplified the tension-filled relations between tech giants such as Google and Apple as well as their smaller competitors in the midst of a judicial and legislative examine the potential the monopoly power of Silicon valley’s giants. On Wednesday, the primary concern was the apps stores of Google and Apple as well as the “gatekeeper” function they allow other businesses to access consumers through mobile phones.
Google’s Wilson White, senior director of public policy and government relations as well Apple’s Kyle Andeer, chief compliance officer, sat in the hot seat to defend their businesses against rivals who accused the technology giants of leveraging their position to beat out competitors. The music streaming service Spotify and the company that makes tracking devices Tile were among the companies who testified on behalf of their representatives. Responding to the Match claim, Google said the phone call, which wasn’t discussed in detail during the discussion, wasn’t intended to be a threat, but included an “honest inquiry.” “I respect that and don’t see it as an attempt to intimidate,” said White, who said the phone call seemed like one that is typically made by a person working in business development. Klobuchar stated that the subcommittee will investigate the matter further.
The hearing on Wednesday didn’t feature any CEOs from the big tech companies however it is some of the more significant methods Congress has attempted to delve into the antitrust issues within Silicon Valley. The past Congress antitrust hearings have turned out to be extravagant, with the problems being dominated by the star the tech stars like the Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg or Apple’s Tim Cook. Wednesday’s hearing, in contrast focused on more specific issues, including the 30% tax that Google and Apple make from transactions in the app store.
Epic debate
Apple as well as Google aren’t the only ones facing legislative pressure. The two companies are fighting with makers of games Epic over their rules for apps. Both companies have removed Epic’s popular game Fortnite out of their stores in the past year, following the game maker’s maneuver against the giants payment systems. Fortnite also sued both companies. Apple’s battle against Epic however, is particularly well-known with a court trial set to begin in May. Epic intends to present its argument that Apple’s actions violate the antitrust laws. Utah Senate. Mike Lee cited some of the evidence in that lawsuit during the hearing on Wednesday, saying that an app on Apple’s store is necessary and not an option according to what Apple states. The App Store houses “a small group of people with no other place for them to visit, or cannot go anywhere,” Lee said. He said that a lot of the companies that spoke at the hearing were concerned about retaliation by Apple or Google. “You’re asking us to accept your word as gospel there,” he said.
Andeer did not respond to evidence in the Epic lawsuit, but he He did mention the App Store’s size and reach as being a good fit to the marketplace. “Look at our twelve-year experience,” he said. “Everything that we’ve made accessible to developers has allowed them to unlock an incredible number of opportunities.” Others on Wednesday attempted to prove the idea that Apple and Google are owed by other companies to boost their market dominance. Horacio Gutierrez, Spotify’s director of international affairs as well as chief lawyer of Spotify said that the iPhone was not a huge success until it allowed third-party apps onto the platform. “Apple thus has it’s own rules wrong when it says that companies such as Spotify have no stake in Apple’s innovation,” Gutierrez said. “It’s Apple’s success was based heavily on the creativeness of third-party app developers who led to demand for Apple’s devices.
Apple to Increase Prices Outside of the US In the Coming Month
Apple will increase the cost for purchasing apps including in-app items, as well as memberships available to iPhone as well as iPad owners as a response to global currency fluctuations and rising inflation. The change will affect Chile, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Vietnam and all locations that are euro-based or, more precisely all of Europe as per Apple. It is not clear if the App Store for the US is not included in Apple’s message to developers on Monday evening.
In its announcement, Apple said the changes will take effect beginning in October. For instance one, the cost of an app that is priced at 0.99 euro will increase by 1.19 euros. (That’s the equivalent to a 99 cent app soaring from $0.99 to $1.19.) For Vietnam particularly, Apple said, it will increase prices due to the new tax regulations. “Your profits will be adjusted in line with the new tax rules,” Apple told developers. Apple confirmed that the changes wouldn’t affect automatic renewals of subscriptions however, it said developers have the option of preserving the prices that are currently in place for existing customers or increase prices to reflect the updated amount.
The price increases caused by Apple represent the latest evidence of economic uncertainty amidst rising worldwide inflation which is largely due to rising energy costs due to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. A number of countries have responded to the rising costs by introducing more interest rates, which are intended to limit the process of borrowing as well as purchases. Prices could drop if purchasing decreases. The currencies of the world have fluctuated in the economic turmoil. The euro, for instance has fallen in value in relation with the US dollar. one euro is now worth $1. This is also the case with the value of the other nations currency.
Apple often changes App Store prices, but this time, it’s taking place during times of economic uncertainty , and when the tech giant launches its latest models of phones. The all-new iPhone 14 starts at $799 while iPhone 14 Pro starts at $799. iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999. Apple has maintained prices for the new products on par with the prices of last year’s. Apple is also launching its latest Apple Watch Ultra this week it is a wearable made to be used in extreme sports. It costs $799, which is about two times the cost of its latest Apple Watch Series 8.
