By now you’ve probably heard about the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These new EU rules came into effect last week and require tech giants, known as “gatekeepers,” to open up their core platforms to third parties to remain competitive in the tech sector.
Many companies, such as Meta and Microsoft, are affected by these new laws. But perhaps no company has been forced to make more significant changes than Apple. The iPhone maker has had to make extensive changes to long-standing policies for many of its core products, such as the App Store. Apple’s DMA-inspired changes have also been widely criticized by their peers in the tech industry.
Apple’s “malicious compliance” has been in the spotlight over the past few weeks, which may seriously downplay just how positive the DMA has been for iOS users in the EU.
Now, let’s take a look at the top five changes Apple has forced into iOS thanks to DMA. Some of these will make people in the United States and other parts of the world envious that their own countries have not passed similar antitrust laws.
Third-party app stores
The fact that Apple no longer has a de facto monopoly on how apps are distributed on iOS is the biggest change to the company’s mobile ecosystem. Thanks to DMA, Apple “alternative market“You can distribute apps to iPhone and iPad.
This means that for the first time, developers will be able to create apps that don’t comply with the Apple App Store’s content and development policies. Therefore, users can expect different types of apps that may have previously been banned from the App Store.
In addition to “alternative marketplaces,” developers can choose to create their own standalone app store environments where they distribute only their own applications.
Additionally, developers will no longer be required to participate in the App Store’s revenue-sharing model for transactions such as in-app purchases that give Apple a portion of sales. This means developers can potentially pass on cost savings to consumers.
Fortnite is back
When you say you no longer have to share revenue with Apple, fortniteIt is a hugely popular online battle royale game. Come back On iOS thanks to DMA.
Game developer Epic Games has announced that it will be releasing the following games: fortnite Soon after Apple announced its “Alternative Marketplace” option earlier this year, it’s coming to the iPhone once again.
In 2020, Apple booted Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games attempted to circumvent the iPhone maker’s revenue-sharing rules. Because this is against App Store policies, Apple has removed Fortnite from its official marketplace and banned it across iOS.
However, with the DMA coming into effect in the EU, Epic Games may utilize alternative distribution methods to bring Fortnite back to the iPhone for users in that region. (Apple recently block it Epic Games in the developer program, which would have halted the company’s plans to create an alternative market and potentially halted Fortnite’s return to iOS. But the DMA also forced Apple to: reverse That decision.)
Download directly from the developer
If Epic Games wants to allow iOS users to download Fortnite directly from its website, they can now do so as well.
Apple recently added new distribution options for developers in addition to its sweeping iOS policy in the EU.
When app creators want to allow users to download their app right away You can do this on our website. There is absolutely no need for an App Store or third-party “alternative marketplace”. You can distribute it directly without any intermediaries.
(However, developers wishing to distribute via this method must meet certain requirements and then obtain approval from Apple.)
Change default app
I’m tired safari When I click a link on my iPhone, does it open instead of Chrome? sick apple maps Basically, do you always give directions?
Well, if you’re in the EU, you don’t have to deal with native Apple apps on iOS anymore. Thanks to DMA, Apple says it will launch a new settings option that will allow users to choose which default app they want to use for their web browser or maps application. This is a pretty big change. Previously, users had to use Apple’s own applications unless they manually opened a third-party app of their choice.
Apple should also allow EU users to completely delete the Safari app. This action is not currently allowed on iOS.
Interoperability and data portability
Interoperability and data portability are technically two different changes, but they both mean the same thing to users. That means more ownership of your data and how it is used.
As part of that DMA Compliance Report, Apple said it would begin accepting interoperability requests from developers, which would potentially allow more third-party apps to access iOS features. This gives developers access to previously unavailable APIs and allows third parties to leverage these features and associated data to create new apps.
One recent example of this is Apple’s FinanceKit APIgives developers access to Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Savings, which includes Apple user information for the first time. Some developers have already integrated this new feature into their products, automatically importing users’ purchase and transaction history into their financial planning apps.
If these changes aren’t enough to win over EU-based iPhone users, you should look forward to Apple’s upcoming iPhone users. data mobility Plan, courtesy of DMA. Apple says it’s working on a “more user-friendly solution” for iPhone users who want to switch to Android or other mobile devices. Being able to easily transfer data wherever you want is a huge win for consumers.