We’ve known for a few weeks that major changes were on the horizon at Apple, and the American giant has finally announced all the changes it will be making to iOS, Safari, and also the App Store.
The Digital Markets Act, which was adopted in 2022 and will come into force in March, includes various rules that apply to “gatekeepers”, that is, large online platforms that provide trading services such as app stores, search engines, social networks and databases. messaging services.
DMA requires port controllers to: allowing users to access and use other platformsthey that uninstall pre-installed appsthey that change default servicesto give it back Platforms that can interoperate with competitors and ensure that they do not abuse their market position or data.
What changes are planned for iOS with the 17.4 update?
One of the biggest changes Apple needs to make Allow other app stores and payment systems on iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad. Until now, Apple only allowed users to download apps from its App Store and required developers to use its own payment system and pay up to 30% commission for digital products and services.
Under the new rules, EU users will be able to download apps from other sources, such as third-party websites or app stores, and developers will be able to use other payment systems and pay fees. 17 percent lower commission to Apple. Users will also be able to set up an app store other than the App Store. as the default app on their devices.
Another big change Apple needs to make is allowing other browser engines in iOS, the technology that powers web browsers. Up to the present, Apple only allowed web browsers that used its own browser engine called WebKitis the engine behind Safari, its web browser. WebKit isn’t the only browser engine on the market; There are other browsers, such as Chromium, used by Google’s Chrome and many other browsers, and Gecko, used by Mozilla’s Firefox.
According to the new rules, EU users will be able to use web browsers that use other browser engines and developers will be able to create browsers or in-app browsers that use other browser engines. Users will also be able to directly select another default browser when they open Safari for the first time.
Apple also allows developers in the European Economic Area to offer NFC payments in third-party appsIt will allow users to pay with their devices using contactless technology. Developers will also be able to choose to use Apple’s payment services and in-app purchases or integrate with a third-party payment system at no additional cost to Apple. However, if they want to continue using Apple’s existing in-app payment system, they will have to pay an additional 3% transaction fee.
At the iMessage level, Apple had to announce the upcoming adoption of RCS, the new protocol that replaced SMS. But, Messages between iPhone and Android will remain greenbecause Apple wants to keep the blue bubbles for iMessage. Despite this, this is excellent news for all users because iPhone owners will no longer have to go through the unsecured SMS system when communicating with an Android smartphone.
iPhone users will be able to play games in the cloud
The new rules will also affect other aspects of the iOS ecosystem, such as game streaming and NFC payments. After this, Apple opens its App Store to game streaming apps and services like Xbox Cloud Streaming and GeForce NowThese were previously only accessible via a web browser on iOS.
This means users can enjoy a full gaming experience on their devices without the need to download the games. Developers will be able to offer a single app that can stream all the games in their catalog, but Apple warns that each game must comply with App Store rating guidelines and the parent app’s age rating.
Apple fears new rules will put users at risk
Apple is clearly not happy with these new rules and says they will disrupt the user experience and compromise the security and privacy of its devices. The company says the new rules will force users to face a list of default browsers and app stores before they have a chance to understand the options available to them, and the new options will disrupt their experience when they open Safari.
Apple also confirms that “sideloading”, which is already possible on Android, is not secure. According to that,Alternative app stores and browser engines pose security and performance risksand that only its App Store and WebKit are truly optimized and secure for its devices.
Only European users are affected by these changes
In other regions, users will continue to benefit from WebKit Chrome and WebKit, and will continue to be limited to the App Store and Apple’s payment system. But what is certain is that these new rules are expected to have a significant impact on the digital economy and society in the EU and beyond. It may encourage other regions to take similar measures.
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