Why Siri Will Now Default To Any Message App, Not Just Its Own

This is a reflection of two new realities: anti-trust pressure from government regulators concerned with big tech companies' anti-competitive behavior which both customers and authorities find increasingly unacceptable.

And it acknowledges the new market conditions Apple's recent design, pricing and marketing decisions represent, which is that dominance based on insularity is harder to maintain as consumers become more adept at using technology to meet their own needs, not just the seller's. JL


Jon Porter reports in The Verge:

Apple will allow Siri to use third-party messaging apps by default. It will later expand to phone apps for making calls. Siri will learn which service you prefer for each contact and default to that for communications. The advantage Apple’s apps gain over competitors by being the preinstalled defaults on Apple devices is a practice starting to attract the attention of regulators.Apple is already taking steps to allow Siri to work better with third-party music apps.

In a software update coming this year, Apple will allow Siri to use third-party messaging apps by default. It will later expand to phone apps for making calls.

Currently, if you want Siri to message or call a contact using WhatsApp or Skype, for example, you need to specifically mention those apps. Otherwise, the voice assistant defaults to Apple’s iMessage service or the Phone app. However, in the future, Siri will learn which service you prefer for each contact and default to that for communications, according to Bloomberg.

The report says that individual app developers will need to update their apps to take advantage of the new functionality.

EU investigators are currently looking into a complaint made by Spotify

News of the Siri tweaks comes as Bloomberg published a separate piece showing the advantage Apple’s apps gain over competitors by being the preinstalled defaults on Apple devices. It’s a practice that’s starting to attract the attention of regulators. Back in May, there were reports that the EU was preparing to launch an antitrust investigation after Spotify complained that Apple uses its App Store to stifle innovation and limit consumer choice. Apple is facing similar regulatory scrutiny in the US.

Apple is already taking steps to allow Siri to work better with third-party music apps. The latest beta version of Spotify includes the ability to play songs, albums, and playlists from Siri, although you’ll have to specifically ask for Spotify. Otherwise, it defaults to Apple Music.

Responding to Bloomberg’s report, an Apple spokesperson said that the company includes its own apps on its phones “to provide customers with a great experience right out of the box.” It added that in the “few categories” where it produces its own app, “we have many successful competitors.”