LogFAQs > #979490426

How are they alleging a monopoly? Did Android just cease to exist or something?

The sprawling complaint, filed at a federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple used "a series of shapeshifting rules" in a bid to "thwart innovation" and "throttle" competitors.

It accuses the California-based company of stopping competitors from offering rival services on the iPhone while also making it difficult for users to switch to alternative operating systems.

In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the company "undermines apps, products and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone".

The complaint lists a number of "anti-competitive" steps allegedly taken by the company, including blocking apps, suppressing mobile cloud streaming services, limiting third-party digital wallets and "diminishing the functionality" of smartwatches not made by the company.

He pointed to the experience of iPhone users who message non-Apple smartphones, which he said led to "limited functionality" including non-encrypted communications and pixelated or grainy images.

"Apple creates barriers that make it extremely difficult and expensive for both users and developers to venture outside the Apple ecosystem," Mr Garland said.