Tying is illegal in the US. The question is 'is that tying?'.
The answer is: yes. The only way this is not tying is by bundling the service: apple would provide the number for you without charging.
But then, D&B competitors could say this is a trust case.
To really solve this apple must offer a list of companies that offer the solution for whatever numbering problem they seem to have. Or just drop the requirement.
Apple can't provide the number. It's not their database.
The number itself isn't the issue, it's what it represents: that your business is recorded in a large and reputable database of international businesses that is in widespread use by companies and governments.
D&B database is widespread in the US, not internationally. In fact, I own a credit card company/bank and never heard of them until I needed their number. Their database is large because they are filling it, not because companies request.
In fact, S&P and Moody's are the only ratings/registry that can get you anywhere in the banking system.
The answer is: yes. The only way this is not tying is by bundling the service: apple would provide the number for you without charging.
But then, D&B competitors could say this is a trust case.
To really solve this apple must offer a list of companies that offer the solution for whatever numbering problem they seem to have. Or just drop the requirement.