The European commission is investigating claims that Apple used its considerable influence in the mobile world to bend network operators to its will, said a report today.
According to the Guardian, the European competition authority is sending questionnaires to mobile networks that ask whether they were coerced by Apple into anticompetitive behavior.
The questionnaire asks whether companies are required to purchase a minimum number of iPhones, whether they're forced to agree to treat the iPhone preferentially, and other questions that could reveal unfair terms set by Apple.
The document also asks about any technical limitations Apple may be imposing on the iPhone on certain networks.
Apple could be in trouble
The questionnaire is prefaced by an explanation that the European commission "is currently investigating alleged anti-competitive behavior in the EU/European economic area…relating to the distribution of Apple's smartphones ('iPhones') and the limitation or exclusion from use of technical functions on 'iPhones.'"
Regardless of how the documents are filled out, it would be difficult to prove that Apple is in fact the dominant force in the EU, as Samsung is actually the top phone maker.
On the other hand, Apple's influence on the market is undeniable.
The iPhone maker could be found in violation of article 101/102 of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union and article 53/54 of the European Economic Area agreement, which have to do with competition and antitrust laws.
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Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/european-commission-investigating-whether-apple-coerced-mobile-networks-1155830
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