iAntiTrust For Apple?

Following the open, crystal-clear reasons of why Steve Jobs will never use Flash coupled with the new Apple’s Policy of section 3.3.1, Apple might now shift itself in an awkward position (I name as iAntiTrust); the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have gathered to negotiate on this seemingly anti-trust behaviour from Apple.

The New York Post reports:

Regulators will focus on whether the policy, which took effect last month, kills competition by forcing programmers to choose between developing apps that can run only on Apple gizmos or come up with apps that are platform neutral, and can be used on a variety of operating systems, such as those from rivals Google, Microsoft and Research In Motion.

What Is This New Apple Policy Section 3.3.1 About?

This is a Developer Program License Agreement which stipulates that Apple’s Apps (for iPhone, iPad..etc) may be written with ONLY Apple’s approved programming languages, including Objective C and C++. So, any apps written using 3rd-party languages/platforms, for example Flash (from Adobe) would be banned and eventually converted into an equivalent native iPhone code.

Harsh from Apple, right? Well, this is what Greg Slepak, CEO of iPhone Development, calls a ‘locked-in business strategy’. It’s rather a smart move for Apple, but surely a butterfly effect for the rivals around ‘It’. Is this move a well-thought one? I guess it’s a matter of days now to find out.

Here’s the full policy:

3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).

More In-Depth Articles Centered Around The Apple-Flash-AntiTrust Matter

If you are keen about this ‘Apple-Flash-AntiTrust‘ matter going on, I have selected some worthwhile articles around the web which will give you more insights:

• The Apple-Adobe War Escalates: Using Flash to Build iPhone Apps Banned – Mashable
• Adobe Apps: Easier to Pass Through the ‘i’ of a Needle? – Wired.com
• Steve Jobs Debates Developers Over Apple’s New App Policy – WIRED