Apple's iMessage Status Challenged in EU's Digital Markets Act

Apple’s iMessage Status Challenged in EU’s Digital Markets Act

Apple contends that iMessage lacks the requisite popularity to harmonize seamlessly with other applications. The European Union (EU) has set its sights on prominent tech conglomerates through the Digital Markets Act. This legislative measure entails the categorization of certain platforms as “gatekeepers,” mandating their accommodation of competing services and applications.

Nevertheless, Apple has embarked on a campaign against the classification of iMessage as a gatekeeper service, according to reports from the Financial Times, corroborated by two individuals familiar with the matter. The corporation posits that iMessage’s reception within the EU does not warrant such a designation.

The Digital Markets Act delineates gatekeeper platforms as entities boasting an annual revenue exceeding €7.5 billion ($), a market capitalization exceeding €75 billion ($), and an excess of 45 million monthly active users within the EU.

Apple, however, maintains that iMessage falls short of this 45-million monthly active user threshold in the bloc. Consequently, it asserts that the messaging platform should not bear the mantle of a gatekeeper service and need not extend its compatibility to rival applications like WhatsApp.

Does Apple’s rationale withstand scrutiny?

It is worth noting that Apple’s iOS reportedly commands approximately one-third of the European market, a considerable market share by any measure. According to the GSMA’s 2021 report, 474 million Europeans were enrolled in mobile plans. Nevertheless, WhatsApp enjoys greater popularity in the EU compared to the United States. Consequently, it would be illuminating to ascertain the number of monthly active iMessage users in the region, particularly in light of these circumstances.

In this context, the reluctance to designate iMessage as a gatekeeper could potentially bear significant consequences in the United States. The application exerts a firm grip on the American market and does not integrate seamlessly with Android devices. This factor is believed to be a significant contributor to iPhones’ dominance among younger users.

Reports from the Financial Times indicate that discussions within the EU persist regarding the inclusion of iMessage and Microsoft Bing in the roster of gatekeeper platforms. Microsoft is similarly contesting Bing’s classification as a gatekeeper, citing a purported market share of 3%. The finalized list is slated for publication on Wednesday, September 6.

We have reached out to Apple for clarification on its position and to ascertain the number of monthly active iMessage users in the European Union. Subsequent to the company’s response, we will update the article accordingly.

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