The Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr, stated on Monday that the agency should investigate Apple’s decision to block the Beeper Mini service, which aimed to bring iMessage to the Android platform.
Beeper Mini, a new service introduced by Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky, was launched in December. It claimed to have reverse-engineered the iMessage stack to enable its functioning on Android. Over the next few days, both parties engaged in a cat-and-mouse game, with Apple repeatedly blocking Beeper Mini and the latter trying to find a solution. By the end of the month, Beeper gave up on trying to launch iMessage on Android using Beeper Mini, calling its actions “untenable.”
Carr drew attention to this situation, referring to the regulations in Part 14 of the FCC. These regulations state that an “advanced communications service” should be “accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities.”
“Apple’s actions that lead to the exclusion of other companies should be examined in terms of antitrust law and competition protection. However, the FCC should also investigate this particular incident according to the accessibility, usability, and compatibility provisions of Part 14,” said Carr.
Carr pointed out that Beeper Mini promoted values such as accessibility and usability for individuals with disabilities. He criticized Apple, stating that providers “cannot install network features that hinder accessibility or usability.”
The FCC did not immediately comment on plans to conduct an investigation into this matter.
Apple’s decision seems to be attracting regulatory attention. In December, a group of U.S. lawmakers with different political beliefs requested that the Department of Justice investigate Apple’s “potential anticompetitive conduct” towards Beeper, noting that “interoperability and connections between different platforms have long been key drivers of competition and choice for communication services.” Senator Elizabeth Warren also separately criticized Apple’s decision at the time.
FAQ:
1. What is Beeper Mini?
Beeper Mini is a new service created by Eric Migicovsky, the founder of Pebble, which aimed to bring iMessage to the Android platform.
2. What is iMessage?
iMessage is a messaging service developed by Apple, available exclusively to Apple device users.
3. Why did Apple block Beeper Mini?
Apple repeatedly blocked Beeper Mini because the service reverse-engineered the iMessage stack, which violated Apple’s rules and restrictions.
4. Why is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigating this situation?
Chairman Brendan Carr believes that Apple’s actions, which lead to the exclusion of other companies, should be examined in terms of antitrust law and competition protection. Additionally, the provisions of Part 14 of the FCC specify that advanced communication services should be accessible and usable for individuals with disabilities.
5. What could the FCC’s decision mean?
The FCC’s decision could lead to an investigation into Apple’s actions towards Beeper. Conducting an investigation could have consequences for Apple.
Definitions:
– Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – a U.S. government agency responsible for regulating telecommunications, radio, television, and satellite communications.
– iMessage – a messaging service developed by Apple, available exclusively to Apple device users.
– Reverse engineering – the process of analyzing a product or technology to understand its functioning and make changes or reproductions.
Suggested related links:
– Official Apple website
– Official Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website
The source of the article is from the blog lokale-komercyjne.pl