Tech Brew Ride Home Thu. 07/30 – A Comprehensive (8-Minute) Rundown of the Big Tech Congressional Testimony
Jul 30, 2020
Recent Congressional hearings have put big tech under the microscope, with significant scrutiny on Amazon's seller fees and their growing influence. Huawei has dethroned Samsung as the top smartphone maker, sparking fresh competition. Meanwhile, TikTok is investing heavily in its creators, pledging $2 billion over three years. The successful launch of Peacock streamlines competition in the streaming space. These topics reflect the intensifying battle for dominance in the tech industry and the evolving regulatory landscape.
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Apple's App Store Practices
- Tim Cook faced the fewest questions in the hearing, primarily concerning Apple's removal of screen time apps.
- Emails revealed Apple considered a 40% cut of first-year subscriptions, contradicting claims of stable App Store pricing.
Amazon's Prime Video Deal
- Emails revealed Apple offered Amazon a 15% revenue cut on Prime Video subscriptions, contradicting their equal treatment claims.
- This deal secured Prime Video's presence on the App Store in 2017.
Amazon's Diaper Domination
- Amazon strategically undercut Diapers.com, losing $200 million monthly on diapers alone.
- This aggressive tactic forced Diapers.com's parent company to sell to Amazon.