EU Regulators Let iMessage Off the Hook, But Meta and Apple's VR Battle is Just Getting Started
European Union regulators recently wrapped up an investigation into whether iMessage should be forced to open up and work with other messaging platforms. After a 5-month review, they determined that iMessage does not have a large enough user base in Europe to warrant intervention. This stands in contrast to apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, which were deemed essential digital platforms that could restrict competition if left closed.
While iMessage dodged forced interoperability requirements for now, Apple has already announced plans to roll out RCS support in the future for cross-platform messaging. Still, without a legal mandate, Apple faces less pressure to fully open iMessage up to rivals. This could be seen as an incentive for platforms not to grow too much in Europe, to avoid stricter regulation.
In other big tech news, Mark Zuckerberg posted a feisty video insisting that Meta's Quest 3 virtual reality headset is not only much cheaper but actually superior to Apple's yet-to-be-released mixed reality Vision Pro headset. He argued that the Quest 3 offers a better immersive gaming and social experience today, with over 20 million users already on the platform for developers to target.
However, Apple is betting that demand for mixed reality capabilities will outpace interest in pure virtual reality over time. The ability to run existing 2D iPad apps and easily sync content across Apple devices gives their headset a major advantage in productivity.
It remains to be seen whether games and virtual spaces or 2D app integration will become the primary use case for these devices. But in either scenario, it seems Meta and Apple both have some key advantages that will fuel an intense battle in this emerging space for years to come.
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