US sues Apple in antitrust lawsuit: Live updates - CNN

1:15 p.m. ET, March 21, 2024

How the lawsuit could impact Apple products

By CNN’s Samantha Murphy Kelly

A customer looks at products at an Apple store in Berkeley, California, on August 4.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

If successful, the lawsuit’s impact could potentially ripple across Apple’s products, services and business model.

Fees: Apple may need to lower developer fees which could ultimately impact its services revenue.

App Store: The company could be forced to allow access to other app stores or direct app installations, called “side-loading.” But interoperability and compatibility could raise some concerns; Tim Cook previously said its strict platform policies and oversight of app makers ensure that iOS apps are safe and trustworthy. “If we are forced to let unvetted apps onto the iPhone, the unintended consequences will be profound,” he said in 2022.

Greater support for cross-platform messaging: Apple lets iPhone users send high-quality photos and videos to one another but similar texts to Android phones are slower and grainy. It also famously maintains those messages in green bubbles, creating a kind of class divide, critics argue. The company may be required to provide equal support across platforms.

Wallet compatibility: Apple currently blocks third-party developers from offering tap-to-pay functionality. The lawsuit could force the company to allow more digital wallets.

And more: Other changes could come to compatibility with Apple Watches – which currently requires users to own an iPhone – and its mobile cloud service services, which could allow users to access games and other cloud-based apps without having to pay for pricey hardware.

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