Apple is making drastic changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union in response to the new Digital Markets Act regulations. The tech giant will now allow third-party app stores onto iOS devices, breaking from their previous monopoly. Users will soon be able to download new app store apps from a service’s website and set such stores as their default source. However, all apps will still need to be checked and scanned by Apple for malware, and only one version of each app is allowed across all app stores.
Developers using alternative payment systems to distribute their apps will now pay a 17% commission to Apple, down from the previous 30% cut. Additionally, apps delivered via alternative app stores will also be subject to a new Core Technology Fee, charging developers €0.50 per annual app install once an app surpasses one million annual installs in the EU.
Apple’s changes allow for more freedom for developers and alternative sources of revenue for the tech giant, but they also aim to maintain control and ensure business as usual. Legal challenges may still arise, and it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the global app market. For now, Apple’s new fees and policies position the company to maintain its cash flow and continue its dominance in the app market.
