Here’s how Apple’s iPhone design could change – if the US Department of Justice wins its antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant

The US Department of Justice, along with 16 state and district attorneys, announced Thursday that they are suing Apple — saying the company’s sleek devices and software constitute a monopoly that preys on its own customers.

At the heart of the suit is the charge that Apple designed everything from its App Store to iMessage to lock consumers into a walled garden where it’s harder to comparison shop for both hardware and digital services.

An example from the case’s claims is that Apple has made it harder for rival payment apps, such as PayPal or Stripe, to work on the iPhone and prioritizes Apple Pay.

Fortunately, for most ordinary people sitting on the sidelines, Apple’s past legal battles with the European Union (EU) provide an excellent foreshadowing of what big changes could come to the iPhone if the US government emerges victorious.

Apple users may even find themselves saving some money over time.

Software options beyond the App Store

Thanks to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Apple users on the other side of the Atlantic have the option of choosing another standard digital marketplace to buy and download software for their phone.

In reality, Apple’s potentially monopolistic use of its App Store affected app developers as much as Apple hardware owners: The tech giant took 30 percent of all app and subscription costs via the captive marketplace.

The move left many app makers with no choice but to pass that cost increase on to owners of Apple iPhones and iPads, at least as the DOJ now claims.

Here’s how the Cupertino-based company explained its adjustments to comply with the new EU rules: ‘Users are able to manage their preferred default app marketplace through a new default app marketplace apps setting. Platform features for finding and using apps like Spotlight are integrated with a user’s default app marketplace.’

But customers should be made aware that Apple has chosen not to enforce any of its own strict standards on these other app store alternatives, potentially leaving them with something of a ‘Wild West’ vibe.

Switch browsers to Apple’s Safari

The EU ruled that Apple’s provision of its own browser, Safari, on all Apple iPhone and iPad devices constituted a monopolistic practice.

So now, while Safari remains pre-installed, a European user’s first experience of opening the app leads to a prompt that allows them to download and install another web browser as their primary option.

As a part of their support page however, in line with EU regulations, Apple noted that browsers and browser apps are a main portal through which fraudsters and other malicious actors attempt to gain access to people’s digital lives.

So, unlike the App Store situation, ‘Apple will only authorize developers to implement alternative browser engines after meeting specific criteria and committing to a series of ongoing privacy and security requirements.’

These included, they said, ordering that all third-party browser and browser app makers produce “timely security updates to address new threats and vulnerabilities” if they want to on iPhones or iPads.

Greater compatibility for payments via iPhone

Until now, Apple has limited users’ ability to enjoy their device’s Near Field Communication (NFC) technology only between other Apple devices or established payment terminals used by retailers.

This has made it less convenient, for example, to pay back an Android-using friend via the simple and convenient nearby tapping that NFC is known for.

Now, Apple has introduced an option that allows an iPhone owner to allow their other banking or wallet apps the ability to use Host Card Emulation (HCE), expanding the scope of which apps on their phone are compatible with NFC terminals or mobile devices that accept contactless payments.

“To help protect user privacy and security on iPhone, developers who want to build HCE payment capabilities into their banking or wallet app,” Apple said‘must apply for the HCE payment right.’

The application process, they said, will ensure that all these so-called fintech apps ‘meet certain industry and regulatory requirements and commit to ongoing security and privacy standards.’

iMessage – an end to green text bubbles?

The European Union left iMessage — and its habit of treating messages from other phones as second-class citizens — alone.

The EU found that only 10 percent of residents even used iMessage, preferring WhatsApp among other options, making monopolistic concerns somewhat moot.

But the DOJ cannot do the same thing: As many as 85 percent of American teenagers use e.g. iMessage according to Fast companyand Apple itself has recognized the control its SMS app has over privacy.

“The No. 1 hardest (reason) to leave Apple’s universe app is iMessage,” the company site said, citing the writings of a former Apple employee. ‘iMessage is tantamount to serious deadlock.’

While the issues are technical, iMessage monopoly is more than just green vs. blue speech bubbles: communications between iMessage users enjoy less compression of images and video, and most importantly comes with Apple’s best encryption and privacy protection.

Both of these important value additions are denied to texters from other phones contacting an iPhone user in their life.

A DOJ win could expand the network of important people you can connect to securely on your device, but Apple isn’t conceding the problem without a fight.

“We believe this lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law,” Apple said in a statement. “And we will vigorously defend ourselves against that,”