They were going to respond, just that for almost an hour, they couldn't due to an unexpected inconvenience; Apple's premium messaging service, iMessage, experienced a brief breakdown. It's a well-known fact that the aesthetics of the 'blue bubbles' in iMessage entice users to gravitate towards Apple's iPhones, leaving no room for compromise or switching. When it comes to messaging on an iPhone, the color of the message bubble seems almost as important as the content it contains.

Interestingly, this seemingly insignificant issue of the 'green vs. blue bubble' didn't escape the attention of America's very own Department of Justice (DOJ). The matter, it seems, has evolved beyond mere colour preference, penetrating the legal realm in the form of an antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant, Apple.

The Department of Justice, in its lawsuit, scrutinized the choice of color differentiations for message bubbles on Apple devices. Judging whether this was a subtle psychological manoeuver by Apple to make their product more attractive or a case of anti-competitive behaviour remains an investigation of interest.

Apple's iMessage service sets blue bubbles for messages sent through the iMessage server and green bubbles for conventional text messages. This distinction becomes significant, given that the iMessage service, complete with its blue bubbles and all, is exclusive to Apple owners. It's a noted fact that the sleek look of the blue bubbles often leads consumers to choose iPhones, indirectly leading to Apple's strengthened market dominance.

The Department of Justice's note of the 'blue bubble effect' and its impact on consumer preference may not bring radical changes to Apple's messaging service shortly. Still, it no doubt emphasizes the scrutiny under which monopoly and market domination scenarios are investigated and critically evaluated in the tech world. This case is not just about message bubbles. It reflects the broader perspective on how even the smallest design decisions can significantly influence consumers' decisions and market shares.

While it might seem trivial, the shift from green to blue implies more than meets the eye. To some, it becomes synonymous with being part of an exclusive club - the 'Apple' club, where you're perceived to have a more premium experience. The Department of Justice underscores that these slight modifications in consumer behavior can carry weighty consequences on competition and market justice.

In a world where virtual communication is becoming more prevalent, this analysis delves deeper into an issue that unites all tech users in its centrality - messaging. It prompts us to retrospect on the extent of application design influence over user preference and choice, transforming designs into powerful business strategies.