The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is investigating competition in mobile app ecosystems.
Comments about competition in mobile app ecosystems are being requested by the United States Department of Commerce. The aim of the investigation was to make recommendations for improving competition, reducing barriers to entry, and maximizing user benefit, as a result of an executive order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy from July last year. The executive order was explained by President Biden.
The American information technology sector has long been an engine of innovation and growth, but today a small number of dominant Internet platforms use their power to exclude market entrants, to extract monopoly profits, and to gather intimate personal information that they can exploit for their own advantage. Too many small businesses across the economy depend on those platforms and a few online marketplaces for their survival...
The formal request for comment lists questions related to the benefits of developing a stand alone app for a platform compared to cross platform web apps, the availability of other methods of app, and how web apps should operate on mobile platforms. There are unique barriers that prevent users and developers from taking advantage of web apps, apps from alternative app stores, or side loaded apps.
The request for comment explains that the app economy is becoming a fundamental way that Americans interact with their environment.
The public can make comments on the competition in mobile app ecosystems on the Federal Register. The information gathered as part of the investigation will be used to inform the competition agenda of President Biden.
In the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and more, Apple'secosystem is coming under intense scrutiny, with a clear appetite from global regulators to explore requirements around app sideloading and interoperability.
The discussion thread is located in the Political News forum due to the political nature of the discussion. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
