Tile Inc. claims Apple’s anticompetitive behavior has gotten worse

Tile Inc, which makes products to help users find lost items, told a congressional panel on Wednesday that Apple failed to live up to promises aimed at resolving a dispute between the two companies and introduced requirements that would hurt their business, reports Reuters.

“Unfortunately, since that hearing, Apple’s anti-competitive behaviors have gotten worse, not better,” Tile said. 

Part of the company’s unhappiness may be due to the rumored “AirTags,” which would be a competitor to the company’s own tracking products. The Tile device is a tiny Bluetooth tracker and app combo. After you have purchased the hardware, download the app to iOS device, and pair your Tile to your device. Once your device is paired use your app to find your item; just listen for the ring. 

Tile has previously objected to Apple requiring its users to repeatedly agree to allow Tile to operate in the background, which is crucial to Tile’s service. Without background location access, Tile’s app can only detect when a user loses keys or a wallet if they happen to lose it while the app is open, notes Reuters.

“Despite Apple’s multiple promises to reinstate ‘Always Allow’ background permissions option for third party apps’ geolocation services, Apple has not yet done so,” Tile said.