Lawmakers Ask DOJ to Probe Apple for Shuttering iMessage Apps

A group of bipartisan lawmakers asked the Justice Department to probe whether Apple Inc. violated antitrust laws when it shut down third-party applications enabling Android devices to use the iMessage service to communicate with iPhone users.

The lawmakers, including Democratic Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee, wrote they are “concerned that Apple’s recent actions to disable Beeper Mini harm competition, eliminate choices for consumers, and will discourage future innovation and investment in interoperable messaging services.” Klobuchar and Lee are the leaders of the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee.

“We also fear these types of tactics may ...