Former App Store Head Says Apple Uses Rules 'as a Weapon against Competitors'

Apple'southward former App Store manager, Phillip Shoemaker, has given testimony hinting that Apple indulges in anticompetitive behavior.

Apple is being investigated by the congressional committee in the Us for allegedly practicing anticompetitive behavior in App Store. House Democrats submitted a 450-page report based on hearings, interviews, and 1.3 one thousand thousand documents analyzed during a 16-month period, to the court on 6^th October. Today, Business Insider has spotted a testimony from a former App Store manager, Phillip Shoemaker, in this 450-page document, which is quite damaging for the Cupertino-based tech giant. Philip Shoemaker oversaw App Shop'southward approval process between 2009 nd 2022.

According to Shoemaker, Apple creates "arbitrary" rules that let the company to block unwanted competitors to its own apps and services on App Store. He said that Apple uses its 'arguable' App Store approval guidelines "as a weapon confronting competitors." Shoemaker says "apps that compete against Apple's services have a track tape of problems getting through the App Shop's review process."

Microsoft offers a subscription-based cloud-gaming service called Xbox Game Pass. Similarly, Google offers Stadia cloud-gaming platform. Still, none of these platforms are available on App Store. And Shoemaker pointed out that the primary reason backside this is Apple'south own cloud-gaming platform, Arcade. He hinted that the Cupertino-based tech giant isn't assuasive other cloud-gaming platforms on App Store to avoid competitors to its ain gaming service.

Apple does allow cloud-gaming platforms on App Store. And GameClub is a clear example of that. However, Apple demands companies to submit each game to App Shop for approval to allow a item cloud-gaming platform on App Store. Shoemaker argues that Apple is treating games differently compared to other downloadable content. For example, Apple tree allows services like Netflix and Spotify to offer in-app content without submitting each individual slice for review. Apple defends its decisions by saying that games are different compared to movies and music because games are interactive and that consumers take different expectations.

Information technology remains to be seen how the Cupertino-based tech giant volition defend antitrust allegations stated in the report submitted to the courtroom. Whatever Apple comes upwardly with, there is no doubt that the statement from its ex-employee confronting the company is truly damaging.

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[Source: Business Insider]