Apple map app raise anti-trust issues

Apple continues to deliver block buster results befitting the legacy of Steve Jobs even after his death, with its share price hitting records and the company emerging as the world's largest company by market capitalisation.

These milestones were reached under the stewardship of Timothy D Cook but they seem inseparable from Jobs. They are the result of initiatives begun under Jobs and, in many ways, reflect his personality - one that was perfectionist, competitive, control driven.

According to the New York Times, the qualities remain in evidence at Apple in the year following his death, most recently in the decision to substitute Apple mapping software for rival Google's in the  iPhone 5 and the new iOS 6 operating system, as also allegations that Apple and book publishers consipred to control the price of e-books.

A full explanation by Apple regarding its decision to replace Google's maps, has not been given which according to analysts, mirrors  the evolution of the Apple-Google relationship from close allies to fierce competitors, a process started well before Jobs' death. Apple also had not said whether it was carrying out Jobs' wishes, but the decision seems to be in line with is passion for "end-to-end control" they NYT points out.

Apple's use of its own mapping technology in the iPhone seems to be an example of tying arrangement or "bundling," ie the purchase of one good or service (in this case the iPhone) is conditioned on the purchase or use of a second (Apple maps).

According to the New York Times, though such arrangements extend the control of a dominant producer, they may violate antitrust laws, the best example of which is Microsoft's attempt to bundle its Internet Explorer browser on Windows software, to the disadvantage of Netscape.