Apple’s iMessage, Microsoft’s Bing exempted from EU technical rules

The EU’s antitrust regulator said Tuesday that Apple’s iMessage and Microsoft’s Bing search engines are not new technologies in the EU, accepting the companies’ claims that these services are not gateways to reach end users. announced that it would be exempted from the rules.

The new Digital Markets Law will come into force within three weeks.

The requirements include requiring Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Amazon, MetaPlatform and ByteDance to allow third-party apps and app stores on their platforms, as well as requiring users to use the default app This includes making it easier to switch from one app to a rival app.

Companies are also prohibited from giving preferential treatment to their own services.

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After a five-month investigation, the European Commission found that iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising “do not qualify as gatekeeper services,” the EU executive said in a statement.

The commission said Apple’s App Store, iOS operating system and Safari browser will continue to be classified as gatekeepers, as will Microsoft’s Linkedin social network and Windows operating system.

It said it had “thoroughly evaluated all arguments, taking into account the views of relevant stakeholders”.

Details of the claims made by the two companies have not been disclosed.

Apple welcomed the committee’s decision.

“Today’s consumers have access to a variety of messaging apps and often use multiple messaging apps at once. This reflects how easy it is to switch between apps,” the spokesperson said. .

Microsoft said Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising are acting as challengers in the market. “We will continue to work with the commission and the industry at large to ensure that Microsoft’s other designated platforms are fully compliant with the DMA,” the spokesperson said.