> This isn't an automobile where there are 50 alternative manufacturers
No, it’s exactly this. There are a ton of manufacturers all providing this product. It just so happens that Apple’s is one of the best, if not the best. And as has been mentioned, there are tons of secure messaging alternatives. It’s just that people prefer iMessage. This is not illegal or anticompetitive.
Imagine if someone claimed they should be let into an airport lounge of an airline they aren’t flying on, simply because their friends are there.
Both tax everything in the world now. They're even becoming official government document providers. They're sinking their claws into all aspects of life and taxing and controlling them.
> It just so happens that Apple’s is one of the best, if not the best.
I don't think you can explain it that way. Network effect is a thing and instant messaging preferences are very regional.
Also:
- With same products and quality Apple probably would probably have lower share in the USA if it was a chinese or iranian company.
- Regardless of its qualities the iphone has long been and is still a social class status symbol.
- The conversation on hn is skewed because iphones have slightly higher than 50% of market share in the USA, not 90% yet commenters on hn mention that their social circle is almost entirely made of iMessage users, which means the average hn commenter is of a much higher income and social class than the average US smartphone user. Using hn is mostly like entering a fancy suburb and only discuss with a limited subset of the population.
No, it’s exactly this. There are a ton of manufacturers all providing this product. It just so happens that Apple’s is one of the best, if not the best. And as has been mentioned, there are tons of secure messaging alternatives. It’s just that people prefer iMessage. This is not illegal or anticompetitive.
Imagine if someone claimed they should be let into an airport lounge of an airline they aren’t flying on, simply because their friends are there.