In the past century there was a case that ATT filed against a company that mad a mechanical device to make calls more discreet. It was a covering over the mouth piece and speaker to eliminate third parties from hearing the conversation. ATT alleged that this was their network and they had control over every element in the network. The Courts eventually disagreed. That was the beginning of the 1980 divestiture.
Now along comes certain phone makers who only permit uses via their App Store. In many ways the Hush a Phone decision mirrors the same issues. In fact in my opinion it is worse. For at the time ATT sought the remedy it was a Federally supported monopoly. The vendors in this case are not. Thus antitrust laws also apply.
Perhaps a time to sell short.
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