Another request from the European Union will require Apple to comply: sideloading and allowing third-party app stores to access the iPhone and iPad.
The tech giant from Cupertino has always strongly opposed the idea of allowing iOS users to download apps from sources other than the official Apple store. The company says that this restriction keeps the iOS ecosystem safe, but critics say it's more about controlling how much money apps downloaded by Apple users make.
Apple's explanation is not accepted by the EU. The Digital Markets Act, a new EU law, will require Apple to remove restrictions on app downloads.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on making it possible to download apps from other sources. Having the option to host apps elsewhere would enable developers to avoid this Apple tax, which many developers contend is unfair. Apple takes a 30% cut of App Store sales.
Apparently these progressions will at first just be carried out in Europe, however considering that US legislators have likewise been examining sideloading, a more extensive rollout is probably quite close.
Legally, Apple is not required to make these changes until 2024, but the company is said to be planning to make them available with iOS 17 the following year.
Apple will not give up all control; the company may even impose certain security requirements on all apps and charge a verification fee. Whether developers who distribute their apps through the official store will be permitted to install their preferred payment methods is unknown.
Aside from that, Apple may open up features like the NFC chip and the Find My Network to third-party apps, allowing them to interact with the company's hardware and core system functions in a more intimate way.
One necessity that Apple is as yet not prepared to follow is opening iMessage and Messages application to outsider administrations as the organization engineers accept this could subvert security.
The EU recently required Apple to replace the lighting port with USB-C, which is a win for consumers. Another win would be the freedom to download apps from anywhere, though it could be argued that unofficial app marketplaces would make the iPhone less secure.
Sideloading is already supported by Apple's Mac and Google's Android.
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