Apple's newest headache: an app that upended its control over messaging

For years, a new app called Beeper Mini has given Android devices access to Apple’s messaging service, iMessage. This has raised concerns about Apple’s market dominance and whether it has used iMessage to block competition. The Justice Department, as part of its investigation into Apple’s anti-competitive behavior, has met with the creators of Beeper Mini. The Federal Trade Commission has also expressed interest in scrutinizing dominant players that disallow interoperability between services. This battle has caught the attention of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust. Apple’s protection of iMessage as an exclusive feature has been a key part of its strategy to sell more iPhones. Rival smartphone makers have attempted to offer similar features, but their efforts have been largely unsuccessful. Apple recently announced it would adopt technology that allows for higher-resolution videos to be shared between smartphones, but Android users will still be stuck with green bubbles for text messages. The response from Apple to Beeper Mini could have a significant impact on how messaging works in the future.