Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

Apple 'set to allow rival app stores on iPhone' to meet EU law

Apple 'set to allow rival app stores on iPhone' to meet EU law

Were Apple to open up to outside app stores to comply with the Digital Markets Act, companies like Amazon and Microsoft could theoretically bring their own stores to iPhones and iPads.

Apple is set to allow rival app stores on to the iPhone and iPad in the EU, according to a report.

Bloomberg says the company could make the move as soon as late next year to comply with a new competition law from the bloc, which has already forced the tech giant to reluctantly adopt a new charging standard.

Apple's iPhones have long sported a propriety lightning port, but will replace it with USB-C by the end of 2024, bringing the handsets in line with Android devices and many other portable electronics.

But allowing alternative marketplaces to operate in its notoriously locked-down ecosystem would be a far greater sacrifice for the California-based firm.

For the past several years, Apple has fought a bitter legal battle with video games giant Epic over claims the iPhone's native App Store constitutes a monopoly.

It came after Epic's flagship title, Fortnite, was removed from the store after the company tried to bypass Apple's requirement that it takes a 30% cut from all in-app purchases.

About $10bn in transactions flowed through the App Store last year, according to estimates from mobile analytics company Sensor Tower.

'Potentially seismic'

Were Apple to open up to outside app stores to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, a company like Epic may theoretically bring its own shopfront to the company's phones and tablets.

Epic boss Tim Sweeney called on US politicians to pass similar legislation, saying an EU-only edict would "leave American developers in serfdom in the nation where Apple was founded".

Other tech companies that could be well-placed to launch their own iOS app stores are Amazon and Microsoft.

Alex Haffner, competition and regulatory specialist at law firm Fladgate, said it was "potentially seismic".

"The announcement reflects an interesting new approach," he said.

"Whereby, big tech companies may see it as being prudent to pre-empt the regulatory authorities by taking steps that deal with concerns being raised by those authorities - prior to the authorities having the opportunity to impose measures of their own."


Fortnite has long been banned from the App Store

'Most would ignore alternative app stores'


But given the security and simplicity of Apple's own store, apps and services is a large part of the firm's appeal for many customers, they would likely need serious convincing to go elsewhere.

Angelo Zino, a stock analyst at CFRA, said he would expect most people to stick with Apple's App Store.

He added: "The ultimate impact will be minimal, as most consumers are creatures of habit and are very satisfied with the platform. We expect the majority of consumers will keep the status quo."

Bloomberg also reports that Apple is yet to decide whether to comply with other parts of the EU's new law, such as allowing for alternative payment systems to its own.

The EU is expected to start enforcing the act in mid-2024, with hefty fines for violations.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×