March 2021 interim report

On 28 April 2021, the ACCC released its second interim report as part of its inquiry into markets for the supply of digital platform services.

This report provides in-depth consideration of competition and consumer issues associated with the distribution of mobile apps to users of smartphones and other mobile devices. It specifically focuses on the two key app marketplaces used in Australia, the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

See: Digital platform services inquiry - March 2021 interim report

Media release

Dominance of Apple and Google’s app stores impacting competition and consumers

Issues paper

To inform its March 2021 report, the ACCC released an issues paper on 8 September 2020 seeking views on the operation of app marketplaces in Australia.

This issues paper was accompanied by two fact sheets containing key issues and questions for consumers and app developers.

On 17 November 2020, the ACCC published submissions to the issues paper and fact sheets informing the March 2021 interim report. Responses to the related consumer and app developer questionnaires were published on 27 November 2020.

Document title	Published date
Digital platform services inquiry - March 2021 report - Issues Paper ( PDF 766.45 KB )	8 September 2020
Digital platform services inquiry - March 2021 report - Fact sheet for consumers ( PDF 259.11 KB )	8 September 2020
Digital platform services inquiry - March 2021 report - Fact sheet for app developers ( PDF 284.19 KB )	8 September 2020

Submissions to issues paper

The ACCC received submissions in response to the issues set out in the issues paper and fact sheets from interested parties.

Document title	Published date
Apple Pty Limited (2 October 2020) ( PDF 3.39 MB )	17 November 2020
Apple Pty Limited (10 February 2021) ( PDF 3.68 MB )	24 March 2021
Apple Pty Ltd (8 March 2021) ( PDF 86.78 KB )	15 March 2021
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (16 October 2020) ( PDF 208.35 KB )	17 November 2020
Australian Business Software Industry Association (ABSIA) (2 October 2020) ( PDF 1.26 MB )	17 November 2020
Australian Investment Council (8 October 2020) ( PDF 1.19 MB )	17 November 2020
Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) (2 October 2020) ( PDF 380.84 KB )	17 November 2020
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (8 March 2021) ( PDF 1.01 MB )	24 March 2021
Developers Alliance (2 October 2020) ( PDF 2.54 MB )	17 November 2020
Epic Games (4 February 2021) ( PDF 362.3 KB )	5 February 2021
Epic Games (9 March 2021) ( PDF 772.45 KB )	15 March 2021
Family Zone (20 November 2020) ( PDF 418.93 KB )	11 December 2020
Free TV Australia (16 October 2020) ( PDF 794.65 KB )	17 November 2020
Google (19 October 2020) ( PDF 286.5 KB )	17 November 2020
Huawei (2 October 2020) ( PDF 5.13 MB )	17 November 2020
Match Group (16 October 2020) ( PDF 413.71 KB )	17 November 2020
Microsoft (16 October) ( PDF 372.73 KB )	17 November 2020
Nine (16 October) ( PDF 463.05 KB )	17 November 2020
REA Group Ltd (REA) (16 October 2020) ( PDF 231.87 KB )	17 November 2020
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) (26 October 2020) ( PDF 202.63 KB )	17 November 2020
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) (2 October 2020) ( PDF 543.83 KB )	17 November 2020

Questionnaires

Consumers and app developers also provided their views via questionnaires on the ACCC consultation hub. The questionnaires closed on 2 October 2020.

Document title	Published date
App marketplaces report - Consumer questionnaire responses ( XLSX 212.05 KB )	27 November 2020
App marketplaces report - App developer questionnaire responses ( XLSX 84.15 KB )	27 November 2020

Submission to interim report

The ACCC received a submission in response to the March 2020 interim report.

Information on providing feedback on Digital Platform Services Inquiry interim reports is available on the Interim Reports page.

Document title	Published date
Match Group (9 September) ( PDF 452.52 KB )	27 October 2021

Digital platform services inquiry 2020-25