In: Operations Management
Does Apple's alleged conduct fit within the definition of a monopoly?
In your response, remember that this same question was asked in the text about Apple's nearly 70 percent share of the online music market.
Is it true that the fleeting nature of monopolies in the tech area takes care of the problem? Support your answer.
Is the iPhone a monopoly?
Most of us think "yes". But in reality, it is not. They have a market share of 14.5%, they would have a monopoly, if they had a market share of 100%. That they make much more money because consumers are willing to pay higher price for their products as they feel it is worth.
Apple inc can be considered an oligopoly and monopolistic. Apple maintains an oligopoly market structure in the competition of smartphones, but it is monopolistic in the area of smart computers because they produce a highly differentiated product.
But the "monopolization" of the app store iPhone allows apple to exercise simple market power, it enables apple to engage in differential pricing in which these who value iPhone apps have to pay more price.
Tech monopoly does not solve the problem, but tech monopoly poses to threat to democracies because of the price they charge, it is the concentration of power, data, and control over the public space. Their ability to wield the power over a growing number of economic activities, especially in the infrastructure and technologies of the future.