In focus for the Chinese authority (SAMR) is, among other things, that Apple takes up to 30 percent of what customers pay for services they purchase when using apps from external actors, which have been downloaded from the App Store. They also block the possibility of using external payment services and stores, reports Bloomberg with reference to sources.
Pressed hard in China
Apple's fees can be unreasonably high and the exclusion of online stores and other payment services can be anti-competitive and drive up prices for Chinese consumers, according to sources.
Apple – which is pressed hard on the Chinese market by competition from competitors such as Huawei – motivates the fees and its policy towards external actors by saying it is to protect users and improve customer experience.
The questions – which have been raised by Chinese Tencent Holdings and Bytedance – have, according to the anonymous sources, been discussed since last year by representatives of the Chinese authority, responsible for Apple and app developers.
Investigating Google
The Chinese SAMR announced on Tuesday – at the same time as the Trump administration introduced new tariffs on Chinese goods – that they have initiated a formal investigation of Google, a part of American Alphabet.
The EU has through directives forced Apple to accept payments with third-party solutions and the use of external online stores.
