Apple preps for 'third-party iOS app stores' in Europe
- Reference: 1671003008
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/12/14/apple_eu_third_party_ios/
- Source link:
[1]According to Bloomberg , when iOS 17 arrives next year, it will include architectural changes called for under the European Digital Markets Act (DMA), part of a set of regulations [2]adopted earlier this year to limit the power of large technology companies.
The DMA [3]says that a gatekeeper's ability to restrict the installation of third-party applications or third-party software application stores "should be prohibited as unfair." To ensure competition, platform overlords like Apple should "allow the third-party software applications or software application stores to prompt the end user to decide whether that service should become the default and enable that change to be carried out easily."
[4]
This language appears to demand support for both third-party applications stores and direct app installation by users – sideloading – a capability available to Android and macOS customers but repeatedly [5]decried by Apple as a security disaster.
[6]
[7]
The extent of these changes has yet to be finalized but they're expected to be limited to Europe, at least initially. Over time, it would not be surprising if Apple and other tech companies worked to harmonize gatekeeper obligations in different countries to avoid the compliance burden of maintaining different systems in alternate economic zones.
Federal lawmakers in the US have not managed to pass [8]legislation targeting tech gatekeepers , despite persistent political grandstanding about anticompetitive behavior. Other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, have forced Apple to make some concessions but these have been narrowly targeted. Australia in [9]a recent interim report has called for regulatory changes to limit tech company gatekeeping, but these have yet to be turned into law.
[10]
By 2024, [11]when the DMA obligations must be met , iOS customers in Europe are expected to be able to download apps from outside Apple's iOS App Store, thereby avoiding the company's commission of up to 30 percent for paid apps. Whether Apple will also allow third-party payment services to handle in-app purchases hasn't apparently been decided.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, however, [12]claims Apple "still plans to charge developers for access to iOS even with sideloading." It's not known how this charge might be applied and presumably it would be in addition to the $99 Apple Developer Program annual fee.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
[13]Apple should pay €6m to French data watchdog for tracking users without consent, says official
[14]Apple brings DIY fix-it store to Europe, UK – with gritted teeth
[15]Get ready for $10,000 apps in Apple's software souk
[16]Broadcom braced for full EU investigation into $61B VMware buyout
Among other changes being considered is the removal of Apple's requirement that all iOS browsers use its WebKit rendering engine, a rule already [17]viewed skeptically by the UK Competition & Markets Authority due to [18]objections raised by developer groups like Open Web Advocacy.
In addition, Apple is said to be looking at making some private application programming interfaces (APIs) and hardware like its camera and near field communication (NFC) chip more accessible to developers. Another possibility is that Apple may open its FindMy network, used for locating AirTags and Apple hardware, to third-party hardware.
[19]
Apple's response to the DMA's requirement that chat apps be interoperable has yet to be revealed. The company however is not expected to add support for RCS, a communication standard that [20]Google has been urging Apple to embrace .
In [21]a statement , Rick VanMeter, executive director of the Coalition for App Fairness, a group supported by Epic Games, Spotify, and March, welcomed the intervention of EU regulators and called for similar legislative action in the US.
"In the United States, Congress should take note of this development, which exposes Apple’s arguments on privacy and security as flimsy, hollow excuses to avoid competition," said VanMeter. "It's time for Congress to immediately pass the Open App Markets Act (OAMA) as part of the omnibus package to protect American consumers and businesses from the anti-competitive practices of mobile app store operators. Until OAMA passes, American developers and consumers will continue to suffer while those in foreign jurisdictions will benefit." ®
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[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-13/will-apple-allow-users-to-install-third-party-app-stores-sideload-in-europe
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/22/eu_dsa_draft_meps/
[3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R1925
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y5ms07umdSG-fk-fcMO04wAAAFA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/14/apple_sideloading/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y5ms07umdSG-fk-fcMO04wAAAFA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y5ms07umdSG-fk-fcMO04wAAAFA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-blackburn-and-klobuchar-introduce-bipartisan-antitrust-legislation-to-promote-app-store-competition
[9] https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/serial-publications/digital-platform-services-inquiry-2020-2025/digital-platform-services-inquiry-september-2022-interim-report-regulatory-reform
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y5ms07umdSG-fk-fcMO04wAAAFA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act-package
[12] https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/1602745277751902210
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/13/apple_should_be_fined_6mn/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/07/apple_self_service_repair_store/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/07/apple_developer_charges_store/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/12/broadcom_braced_for_eu_investigation/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/12/uk_competition_watchdog/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/28/apple_apps_challenge/
[19] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y5ms07umdSG-fk-fcMO04wAAAFA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/10/google_tells_apple_to_fix/
[21] https://appfairness.org/coalition-for-app-fairness-responds-to-reports-that-apple-will-allow-additional-app-stores-in-the-european-union/
[22] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Thanks for nothing EU
Trying to figure out if you're serious, or just an Apple shill.
Re: Thanks for nothing EU
On reflection, I reckon 70% serious and 30% Apple shill!
Re: Thanks for nothing EU
Apple take 15% which for me as a one man business is an absolute bargain. I make a really good living from sales on the AppStore (about 5 times what I make from Android - I wonder why?)
Re: Thanks for nothing EU
Although there are alternatives to the Play Store on Android, most developers don't use them, and I imagine it will be the same on Apple devices. But you will have a choice.
Re: Thanks for nothing EU
And because there are alternatives on Android I’m losing out on sales there. I looked at the Huawei store but it looks like you need a Chinese partner. No problems if you’re a big games studio, but it’s all too much bureaucracy for a one man company
This massively reduces the value of an iPhone for average users, part of the value of an iPhone came from not having to worry that you or your children might accidentally download a virus or scam app.
If you want to install apps from random websites then there is already an option for consumers to do that, it's called buying an Android phone.
Forcing iPhones to be like Android just takes choice away from consumers.
Does this include the UK?
I hope there's an option to block this nonsense.
The iPhone was until now one of the more safer platforms, so I guess it stands to reason that the EU wants to create a level playing feld by making it equally unsafe as the Android platform (which makes me glad that Microsoft already left that market), but I hope I get the choice as consumer to disable it or to download the US loadset which doesn't have any of this nonsense. The amount of time it saves me not having to evaluate every app for possible infection is worth the money, at least for me (your use may differ, of course).
To be honest, the EU has been a massive disappointment when it comes to anti-competitive behaviour, as demonstrated by their inability to deal with Microsoft. It takes years, and the measures eventually proposed are so easy to bypass and have so little impact that might not have bothered. Or maybe that's the way [1]to get bribed , no, wait, that's called "being lobbied"..
If it wasn't for getting a decent grip on privacy and some recent decent criminal investigations I'd call them useless.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63952993
now extend it to the German Car Makers.....
Now I want to see the European Authorities apply this to the German Car Industry as well.
If Apple can be forced to open their devices to other App Store then surely cars should be treated the same?
Why can't I just install CoPilot (other satnavs are available) on my car's infotainment system? Why should I be forced to use the rubbish satnav the car maker has been paid to put on?
Popcorn time if they do....
Re: now extend it to the German Car Makers.....
A car is not a general purpose computing device.
Less is more..
Who would have thought that lack of choice and the Apple tax is a consumer benefit.
All those obsolete phones being allowed to continue is a no no so they say..
Thanks for nothing EU
As an independent developer making most of my income from the AppStore the absolute last thing I want is for a plethora of ways for potential customers to come across my games.