In an attempt to challenge iMessage, Google is actively advocating for Apple’s services to be labeled as “core platform services.” Collaborating with several European telecommunications companies, Google aims to persuade the European Commission to mandate the integration of iMessage with other apps like Google Messages into a unified, cross-platform messaging service.
According to a paid report from the Financial Times, Google, along with Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and other entities, has submitted letters to the EU, asserting that iMessage meets the scale threshold of the Digital Markets Act and should fall under its jurisdiction. These companies argue that consumers would significantly benefit from the cross-platform compatibility of iMessage with other messaging services.
The EU argues that Apple indirectly boosts its revenue by guiding buyers toward iPhone upgrades through the exclusive pre-installation of iMessage, limited to users of those devices. Consequently, it is currently under investigation by the EU, despite Apple’s attempts to exempt its exclusive service from the Digital Markets Act.
Apple contends that iMessage lacks popularity in Europe and doesn’t meet the “gatekeeper” service requirement of 45 million monthly active users outlined in the Digital Markets Act. Additionally, Apple argues that iMessage should remain outside the Act’s purview, emphasizing its free-of-charge nature and the independence of all iPhones to function without any reliance on the app.
By February, the EU will decide iMessage’s fate, determining its inclusion in the Digital Markets Act. Should the app meet the specified conditions, Apple has until March 2024 to comply with the new regulations, facilitating interoperability with other messaging apps.
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