US Senator Claims Apple is Monopolizing on Smartphones Through 'Green Texts'

Senator Elizabeth Warren has ignited controversy by advocating for the dismantling of what she perceives as Apple's monopolistic grip on the smartphone market.

Despite iPhone adoption reaching only half of the US population, Senator Warren remains steadfast in her criticism of Apple's practices.

Allegations of Monopoly and Exclusivity

Senator Warren recently aligned herself with Beeper, a messaging app that breached iMessage security protocols and leveraged Apple's servers without compensation.

Now, she has intensified her critique by accusing Apple of maintaining a "stranglehold monopoly" and employing underhanded tactics to exclude non-iPhone users from certain features, such as group messaging via iMessage or (green texts).

In her scathing remarks, Senator Warren alleges that Apple's refusal to extend certain iPhone-exclusive features to non-iPhone users is detrimental to interpersonal relationships. She points to the exclusion of non-iPhone users from group chats and other social interactions as evidence of Apple's monopolistic behavior.

"It's time to break up Apple's monopoly now," she concludes.

Criticism of Tap-to-Pay and Messaging Services

Senator Warren further criticizes Apple's Tap to Pay system, arguing that the company unfairly profits from every transaction made using the feature.

Despite acknowledging the involvement of payment processors like PayPal and credit card companies in transaction fees, she singles out Apple for condemnation.

Moreover, Senator Warren's condemnation of Apple's messaging services, particularly iMessage, as a source of relationship strain overlooks the broader context of messaging interoperability issues between different platforms.

While acknowledging Apple's commitment to supporting RCS to enhance messaging compatibility with Android devices, she maintains her stance against the perceived exclusivity of iMessage, 9to5Mac reports.

Lack of Concrete Policy Proposals

Despite her vocal opposition to Apple's practices, Senator Warren's statements lack substantive policy proposals or actionable solutions. While expressing support for the Department of Justice's legal actions against Apple, she falls short of presenting clear directives for addressing the alleged issues.

Political Maneuvering or Genuine Concern?

Some critics view Senator Warren's criticisms of Apple as opportunistic political posturing aimed at garnering attention and support for her re-election campaign. The absence of concrete policy initiatives and the absence of detailed plans for addressing Apple's dominance raises questions about the sincerity of her advocacy.

In response to Senator Warren's remarks, Apple has maintained silence, refraining from engaging in a public exchange.

In late March, Apple made a huge move to sue Andrew Aude, an iOS engineer who previously worked with the Cupertino giant.

According to the lawsuit, Aude was accused of leaking insider data to news agencies. For such unknown reasons, he released confidential information about iPhones, the new Vision Pro, spatial computing, and other data that should only be kept private.

There was a report where Aude went to the bathroom to delete any traces of evidence of leaks. It was in 2016 when he joined the iPhone maker as a key worker in battery optimization for iOS.