Apple is making big changes to its apps distribution in the EU.
Complying with the EU’s DMA, Apple has announced that starting in March, iPhone users can expect to see third-party app stores, giving them the choice to download apps from multiple sources.
After months of speculation surrounding Apple’s eventual compliance with European Union regulations mandating third-party app stores be allowed on its mobile platform, the Cupertino-based giant has unveiled its strategy. This marks a big shift in the app distribution model, and it is arguably the most significant change since the launch of the App Store.
For those uninitiated with the matter, Apple is required to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This mandates all companies with 45 million active users and an $82 billion market capitalisation to ensure their applications are compatible with rival platforms. Additionally, users are granted the autonomy to choose which applications they desire to have pre-installed on their devices.
Simply put, beginning in March of this year with iOS 17.4, iPhone users in EU countries will soon have the option to access alternative app stores, rather than relying solely on the App Store for downloading apps and games. This is reminiscent of ‘side loading’ on Android phones, which gives users the choice where they download their apps from. This option, of course, depends on developers choosing to pursue it. However, to ensure user safety, Apple will mandate that these third-party stores undergo approval from Apple. Additionally, users will be required to grant permission for the store to download apps to their devices after downloading them.
This will enable users to download apps that may not strictly adhere to Apple App Store’s guidelines, and users can even have such a third-party store as the default on their iPhones. However, Apple will stick to its standard practices, which include scanning apps for malicious software, and it will be permitting only a single version of the app for download across various storefronts. Additionally, Apple will impose a “core technology fee” on major app developers, whether they choose to use Apple’s payment system, or not.
Also, developers will now be able incorporate a third-party payment processor within an App Store app without incurring any fees.
Furthermore, Apple will provide EU iPhone users with the ability to specify a default web browser and contactless payment application. This extends the capabilities beyond those previously available within Apple’s proverbial “walled garden.”
