Tile, a manufacturer of Bluetooth trackers, is worried about its future. The reason for this is Apple's upcoming AirTags and related business practices. Now the EU Commission is also supposed to help.
Tile is a small Bluetooth tracker that is attached to handbags, jackets, wallets or other items to find them if they are lost. Apple's AirTags can do practically the same thing - only probably better. However, this is because AirTags are deeply integrated into iOS. Tile feels attacked. The company accuses Cupertino of abusing its market power and is hoping for help from the US Congress. A corresponding lawsuit has been pending since January. Now Tile has also turned to the EU Commission and is demanding an investigation. To be precise, Apple's business practices should be examined more closely, as they are "highly anti-competitive". While Tile was initially allowed to market its products in the Apple Store, they were gradually removed from the range. At the software level, changes were made under iOS 13 that make using Tile products with an iPhone significantly more difficult. Now the Financial Times, according to which Tiles' letter was delivered to European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on 26 May. It states:
Apple comments on the allegations
"Over the past 12 months, Apple has taken several steps to completely disadvantag Tile, including by making it harder for consumers to use our products and services," Tile general counsel Kirsten Daru said in the letter, seen by the Financial Times.
"This is particularly troubling because Apple's actions come at the same time that Apple has launched a new FindMy app that competes even more directly with Tile, and is also preparing to launch a competing hardware product."
Basically, Apple is deliberately restricting Tile in order to be able to better market its own product, which has not yet been introduced - the AirTags. Of course, Apple has already reacted and made the following statement:
We vigorously reject the allegations of anti-competitive behavior made against us by Tile. In keeping with the critical path we have been on for over a decade, we have implemented additional privacy protections over the past year that protect users' location data," Apple responded. "Tile does not like this decision, so rather than argue the issue on its merits, they have instead chosen to launch meritless attacks.
It is doubtful whether Tile will actually be successful in the end. Nevertheless, the whole thing remains exciting. If you want to find out more about Apple's upcoming AirTags, I recommend our big summary on the topic - enjoy reading. Anker discount campaign: Save up to 25 percent on security cameras, headphones, speakers and more. The discount ends on May 31, 2020. (Photo by rstavila / Bigstockphoto)
