FX.co ★ Apple's IMessage Escapes DMA Regulation

The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) has concluded that products like Apple Inc.'s iMessage and Microsoft's Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Advertising don't hold dominant market positions and will thus avoid stricter regulation.

The DMA was considering if iMessage should be labeled as a "core platform service", which would oblige it to interconnect with other competitors including WhatsApp. Yet, the European Union's executive branch has determined that iMessage doesn't fit the requirements for such regulation.

If iMessage had been classified as a "gatekeeper" service under the DMA regulations, Apple would be required to ensure it is compatible with other messaging services. However, the EU has decided to continuously monitor the market related to these services for any significant developments instead.

Apple's iMessage will continue to function as an exclusive system, although it will now be compatible with the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard. This will enable Android and iPhone devices to exchange emoji reactions and message confirmations. Apple has expressed its commitment to support the RCS messaging standard from this year onwards, which will bolster security and improve the messaging features between iMessage and Android. However, RCS messages will still show up in green bubbles, differentiating them from iMessage's blue bubbles.

While iMessage may avoid tighter regulations, it's noteworthy that other Apple products, including iOS, the App Store, and Safari, are obligated to comply with the DMA's regulations. On a similar note, the EU has labelled Meta's Messenger and WhatsApp as "gatekeeper services", compelling them to cooperate with other messaging apps. In contrast, Apple faces further accusations of being a gatekeeper with its other principal services, like iOS, the App Store, and Safari.