Apple & Google: The tech giants have a duopoly in smartphone software

5/26/22 8:00PM

This week Apple released its latest research on the App Store, in a bid to persuade the public — and more importantly policymakers — that the app economy under its control is thriving, and that Apple's continued stewardship of it is a good thing. The research finds that the iOS app economy now supports 2.2 million jobs in the US.

‍A two horse race

‍In the last decade the software of Apple (iOS) and Android, the latter of which is Google's mobile operating system, have come to dominate the global mobile operating system market. Google's stroke of genius was to make Android free and open source, allowing companies to freely build on top of the Android OS.

Both bring in tens of billions for their respective owners, and together they account for more than 99% of all mobile operating systems according to data from StatCounter.

Lawmakers haven't completely missed the memo, and app stores are the latest way that governments are looking to regulate big tech. Legislation is moving through Congress, and European lawmakers are looking at the Digital Markets Act to help foster competition on the platforms and create choice for consumers.

Hyunsoo Rim

appy birthday

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Apple is turning 50 today and it doesn’t look a thing like its younger self

From Macs to iPods, iPhones, and now services, here’s how Apple’s business has looked every 10 years.

The entrance of Allbirds seen from Hayes St. in San Francisco, Calif.

Allbirds, the once buzzy multibillion-dollar sneaker startup, is selling up for $39 million

That’s less than 1% of its peak market cap about four years ago.

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JetBlue is raising its bag fees as fuel costs squeeze airlines

JetBlue will reportedly hike its bag fees, as the cost of jet fuel continues to climb amid the war in Iran. It’s the latest example of carriers finding ways to push rising costs onto travelers.

Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said that if fuel prices remain elevated, fares would need to rise another 20% for his airline to break even this year.

As CNBC reported, when one airline raises fees, others tend to follow.

Earlier this month, JetBlue hiked its first-quarter outlook for operating revenue per seat mile to between 5% and 7%, saying that strong Q1 demand helped “partially offset additional expenses realized from operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.” Now, the carrier appears to be making moves to further boost revenue to offset those costs.

Earlier on Monday, JetBlue rival Alaska Air lowered its Q1 profit forecast. The refining margins for the carrier’s cheapest fuel option — sourced from Singapore and representing about 20% of Alaska’s overall supply — have spiked 400% since February.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.