Apple is asserting that its iMessage service should not be categorized as a gatekeeper service under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulation.

The rationale behind Apple’s argument remains somewhat unclear, despite iMessage being a preinstalled application on every iPhone sold and one of the most frequently used apps on the platform. Apple has refrained from providing public comments on the matter.

The first list of gatekeeper services, which will be mandated to adhere to the stringent DMA regulations, is scheduled for release this week. It is widely anticipated that Apple’s App Store will be included in this list, potentially paving the way for alternative app stores and third-party iPhone app side-loading.

The primary objective of the Digital Markets Act is to curb the monopolistic power of major online platforms. If iMessage were to fall under the jurisdiction of DMA rules, Apple would be compelled to open iMessage to third-party messaging services, although the specific mechanisms for achieving this are not yet clear.

45 million monthly users

To qualify as a ‘gatekeeper’ service under the published legislation, the service must have more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU. Furthermore, the company must generate an annual turnover in the EU exceeding 7.5 billion euros or possess a market capitalization in excess of 75 billion euros.

In financial terms, Apple comfortably meets these criteria. However, the crux of the debate surrounds whether iMessage has more than 45 million users in Europe.

There are over 1 billion iPhones in use worldwide. Nevertheless, Apple does not publicly disclose monthly active user figures for iMessage, making it challenging to ascertain its precise user count in each region. Competing messaging apps like WhatsApp tend to have a more prominent presence in Europe compared to the United States, where iMessage enjoys higher penetration.

Despite this, considering that iPhones constitute more than 25% of the European smartphone market, it is reasonable to assume that iMessage boasts millions of users. Nevertheless, whether it surpasses the 45 million threshold remains uncertain.