Apple posts record profit, why no monopoly case?

[Professor]

I'm not quite sure I understand, even after reading all this, where a monopoly charge could come from. Sure, I can see collusion, certain collective bargaining and other charges. But, not monopoly.

They are (or were) the 2nd largest provider of physical phones (might have surpassed Samsung in 4Q2014). They are WAY second fiddle to Android. So, they're either 2nd or barely-first in hardware, and distant second in software. And, that's just their iPhone division.

I guess they're a distant 2nd in computers (desktops, laptops, etc.), if not 3rd.

Perhaps their iPod division would be a monopoly. But, how many people have a dedicated MP3 player these days? You just put everything on your smartphone. And, when we add in Galaxies, Nexuses (Nexi?), etc., again, they're 2nd or so.

[Indy]

I'm surprised the iPod is even still around. The only one that would make sense keeping is the tiny one for working out but you're right--everyone uses their phone now.

That's a pretty neat trick if you think about it--they revolutionize music listening with the iPod and then it's made obsolete not by a competitor but by their own new product.

[Decypher]

[Philly]

[Professor]

[spacemonkey]

[phosphide]

[phosphide]

[phosphide]

[Philly]