Senators have grilled Apple and Google in Washington over "anti-competitive" behaviour associated with their app stores.
Representatives from Tile, Spotify and Match additionally gave proof, inculpative the 2 technical school corporations of charging immoderate fees and repetition their concepts.
Both Apple and Google's app stores charge fees of up to half-hour for in-app purchases.
The two firms aforementioned the fees were even to supply security for users.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's fair panel focussed on claims that Apple's App Store and Google's Google Play square measure anti-competitive.
Senator Amy Klobuchar aforementioned that Apple's App Store was a "literal monopoly".
She aforementioned each stores "exclude or suppress apps that contend with their own products" and "charge excessive fees that have an effect on competition within the app store economy".
Google Play and therefore the App Store square measure wherever the overwhelming majority of apps worldwide square measure downloaded.
Developers claim that as a result of a scarcity of competition Apple and Google will charge steep rates.
There were additionally claims that Apple used its App Store to below the belt contend with rivals.
The hearing came daily once Apple launched its new product: AirTags. These will be connected to things like automotive keys to assist users notice them.
The product appearance terribly like one thing already on the market - Tile.
Tile's General Counsel Kirsten Daru aforementioned "We welcome competition however it's to be truthful competition and Apple's plan of competitory is obviously unfair."
She additionally suspect Apple of preventing Tile from mistreatment the technology behind Apple's notice My operate, giving AirTags AN unfair advantage.
Apple aforementioned the merchandise was completely different. "We did not copy Tile's product... It's extraordinarily completely different to anything on the market," aforementioned Apple's Chief Compliance Officer, Kyle Andeer.
Spotify additionally suspect Apple of mistreatment its App Store to charge unfair rates - one thing Spotify's Head of worldwide Affairs, Horacio Gutierrez, delineate as AN "Apple Tax".
Undercutting United States of America
He additionally aforementioned that Apple directly competed with Spotify with Apple Music, and therefore the in-app charges had created Spotify less competitive.
"They square measure undercutting United States of America on value," he said.
He additionally criticised Apple for having rules that meant they were unable to inform customers that the service was cheaper if it absolutely was bought aloof from the App Store.
Apple aforementioned that Spotify had "been implausibly aggressive once it involves addressing artists and creators, and driving a tough bargain".
Mr Andeer aforementioned that "less than 1 Chronicles of Spotify users pay a commission to Apple".
Match, that owns lighter, additionally criticised Apple and Google for the fees it had to pay.
Iron-fisted monopoly
"It is iron-fisted monopoly management," aforementioned Match General Counsel Jared circular function.
"When AN business player has the ability to dictate however apps operate, what quantity they're going to be forced to pay, and in several cases, if they're going to even survive, it's a monopoly."
Both Apple and Google rejected the concept that their app stores were monopolies - and aforementioned the fees were truthful.
On 3 May, Apple and Epic Games, maker of the popular game Fortnite, can begin a court case in their dispute over the App Store charges.
