Business Insider日读新闻随记20

2019年3月14日

Spotify just painted a big target on Apple's back

Spotify’s decision to file a complaint against Apple with the European Commission alleging unfair competition should worry the folks in Cupertino. Spotify’s complaint could lead to a similarly large fine against the iPhone maker. It might also lead to restrictions that could hamper Apple’s services business, which the electronics giant has been touting as its future. 

Spotify’s allegations – any investigation that truly digs into them – could sully Apple’s reputation with consumers. That could be extraordinarily costly for a company that has long benefited from public adulation.

Around 35% to 40% of the smartphones sold in recent months in the US were iPhones. Around 45% to 55% of the smartphones currently in use in the US were made by Apple. Apple’s control over the operating system and app store on iPhones is akin to a railroad that serves as the only rail link for a section of the country.

Apple, arguably, has been abusing that monopoly. Unlike Spotify’s music app, or Google’s Chrome browser, Apple’s rival apps – Apple Music and Safari – are built into iOS and come pre-installed on the iPhone. Apple requires that apps listed in its App Store that offer subscriptions use its payment service, for which Apple charges a 30% commission. So, developers face a choice – they can pay Apple’s tax to make it easy for users to sign up for subscriptions, or they can save money and offer a worse experience.

What’s more, Spotify says Apple has barred it from advertising or offering promotional rates for its service inside its app. Apple has “dominant power over what is a vital artery of commerce'. Spotify’s complaint is only the beginning of what could end up being a years-long investigation by the EC’s competition regulators. 

Entrepreneur's airline lounge app is snapped up by American Express

LoungeBuddy allows users to identify and book an airport lounge in over 450 locations across the globe, usually for a smaller fee than the airlines charge. It also allows users to scan airport lounges for the benefits they might already be entitled to as well as leave reviews.

LoungeBuddy was last valued at $US18 million ($25.4 million) in 2015 when it conducted a series A capital raising led by Founders Fund, the venture firm established by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. The series A brought the total amount of money raised by LoungeBuddy to $US4 million ($5.6 million). American Express went on to say that LoungeBuddy would be a wholly owned subsidiary and would continue to be led by its founders.

'The notion of the overnight success is a farce and there are a lot of really hard-working people, a lot of luck, and opportunity that goes into any success,” Co-founder Altman said.

Uber is talking to Softbank and Toyota about a $1 billion investment 

Uber is in “late stage talks” with SoftBank about a $US1 billion or more investment into its self-driving car unit. The cash infusion would shore up one of Uber’s costliest business ahead of its IPO.

The deal would value Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group at $US5 billion to $US10 billion. News of the funding round was first reported by the The Wall Street Journal, which said a major automaker was also involved in the discussions.

Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group is leading the ride-hailing company’s efforts to develop its own self-driving technology, putting it in competition with Google spin-off Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise. In 2018, Uber stopped testing its self-driving cars for nine months after one of its vehicles killed a pedestrian in Arizona. The investment talks come as Uber is racing towards a public listing, with an IPO expected in the coming months.