Apple is working on allowing third-party app stores on its iPhones and iPads in a move aimed to comply with strict European Union requirements that are set to arrive in 2024, reveals Bloomberg¡¯s Mark Gurman.
According to people familiar with the matter, Apple software engineers and service employees are currently full-speed ahead to open up key elements of Apple¡¯s platforms. Basically, with this, customers will be able to download third-party software to their iPhones and iPads and not be only reliant on the App Store.
This move would allow devs to move from Apple¡¯s restrictions as well as the 30 percent commission that it charges on payments made using its payment gateway.?
Apple is aiming at rolling out this overhaul in the iOS 17 update, which is expected to arrive next year.?
This comes after years of complaints by regulators and software developers which claim both Google and Apple acting as gatekeepers, forcefully charging hefty sums to allow their products on these platforms.?
If similar laws are passed in more countries, Apple¡¯s project could lay the groundwork for those regions, according to people familiar with the matter but asked not to be identified. The initial changes, however, are only designed to take effect in Europe.
The act that¡¯s making all this happen -- the Digital Markets Act will take effect in a few months and companies have time until 2024 to comply with all of its rules. Government officials from US and other nations have also wanted to bring similar laws into force, but they haven¡¯t been able to get as far as the EU has.
The act asks tech companies to allow the installation of third-party apps and allow users to more easily change the default settings. The law applies to tech companies with market valuations of at least €75 billion and at least 45 million monthly users within the EU.
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