BlackBerry CEO Wants Apple, Netflix to Stop 'Discriminating'
BlackBerry boss wants apps to stop "discriminating."
— -- BlackBerry's CEO John Chen wants companies to stop "discriminatory practices" against BlackBerry by not allowing them to use certain apps.
Chen called out Apple and Netflix in a blog post about net neutrality and what he called a "two-tiered wireless broadband ecosystem" where developers create apps only for iOS and Android devices.
"Unlike BlackBerry, which allows iPhone users to download and use our BBM service, Apple does not allow BlackBerry or Android users to download Apple's iMessage messaging service," he wrote.
Apple's iMessage service is only available to customers using the company's ecosystem of devices.
Calling out Netflix, Chen said the company "has discriminated against BlackBerry customers by refusing to make its streaming movie service available to them."
Netflix did not immediately respond to a request by ABC News for comment.
Creating apps is a costly and time-consuming project, which is why some developers choose to focus on iOS and Android, instead of developing for a less popular operating system, such as BlackBerry.
Chen's blog post was adapted from a letter he sent to Congress discussing net neutrality and the need for an open, non-discriminatory Internet.
"All wireless broadband customers must have the ability to access any lawful applications and content they choose," he wrote. "Applications/content providers must be prohibited from discriminating based on the customer's mobile operating system."
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