App Store to Be 'Split in Two' Ahead of EU iPhone Sideloading Deadline - MacRumors
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App Store to Be 'Split in Two' Ahead of EU iPhone Sideloading Deadline

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Apple is preparing to split the App Store "in two" in the coming weeks ahead of European Union requirements that will force Apple to enable app sideloading in the region, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

iOS App Store General Feature Desaturated
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple is gearing up to make changes to the ‌App Store‌ in the EU to comply with the region's impending Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple is apparently planning to roll out adjustments to comply with the new legal requirements in the coming weeks, including splitting off the ‌App Store‌ in the EU from the rest of the world. The deadline for Apple to comply with the DMA is March 7, so the company has just over seven weeks to enact the changes.

Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook met the European Union's antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, at Apple Park. Vestager reminded Cook of Apple's impending obligation to allow users to install third-party app stores and sideload apps under the DMA. Apple will also be obliged to give developers the ability to promote their offers outside the ‌‌‌‌App Store‌‌‌‌ and use third-party payment systems. The DMA is expected to force Apple to make a range of significant changes to the way the ‌App Store‌, FaceTime, and Siri work in Europe.

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Tags: Apple Antitrust, App Store, Bloomberg, European Union, Mark Gurman

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Top Rated Comments

WarmWinterHat Avatar
WarmWinterHat
33 months ago
Good on the EU for standing up for consumers over companies/profits! 👏🏻 We (US) have completely succumbed to corporate control and profit over absolutely everything else.
Score: 115 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
alexe
33 months ago

This will compromise iPhone security.

Some apps will not submit to the App Store in order to drive all sales to their outside store to increase profits.

Others apps will stay outside to avoid Apple review process. Bugs and deliberate surveillance will run rampant.

Fake apps will proliferate outside with no oversight.

Welcome to your diminished privacy and acct security world.

Big mistake EU. Big.
You've never needed an App Store on your computer to ensure your security or privacy.

And if you want to install apps exclusively through the App Store, nothing prevents you from doing that, does it?

It's just more choice for you, the user. You don't have to change anything if you don't want to.

How exactly is that a bad thing for you?

And by the way, Apple has done an extremely bad job at preventing malicious and fake apps in the past.

How are so many people that love to go on about the importance of freedom so hell-bent on defending the corset Apple forces them into?

I guess too many people drank the Apple Kool-Aid.
Score: 76 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
Number 41
33 months ago
I love a government telling me what I can and cannot buy.

I bought an iPhone, in large part, for the security and convenience of all apps coming from a single verifying source.

Now it’s going to become the same Balkanized nonsense that Android is.

Thanks, Europe.
Score: 72 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
Number 41
33 months ago

Good on the EU for standing up for consumers over companies/profits! 👏🏻 We (US) have completely scummed to corporate control and profit over absolutely everything else.
No one was stopping you from buying an Android this entire time.

You chose to embrace the walled garden by buying Apple. Now all of us are going to be forced to endure multiple different app sources with varying and unknown security.
Score: 59 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
Robert.Walter
33 months ago
This will compromise iPhone security.

Some apps will not submit to the App Store in order to drive all sales to their outside store to increase profits.

Others apps will stay outside to avoid Apple review process. Bugs and deliberate surveillance will run rampant.

Fake apps will proliferate outside with no oversight.

Welcome to your diminished privacy and acct security world.

Big mistake EU. Big.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
SoldOnApple
33 months ago
I still want game emulators for my phone. Apple banning them from the App Store, despite them being available on every device for decades now, is a huge limitation for gamers.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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