Apple is taking steps to comply with the European Union (EU) antitrust legislation, known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), passed last year.
The main change will involve the creation of a separate App Store, exclusive to EU countries, where iPhone and iPad users will be able to perform sideloading of third-party apps, as required by the DMA.
The DMA mandates that Apple must allow developers to distribute their iOS apps outside the official App Store and also authorizes the use of third-party payment platforms for transactions within apps.
To comply with these guidelines, Apple has opted for a geographical separation approach, dividing the App Store into two distinct versions: one for EU countries and another for the rest of the world.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple plans, in the coming weeks, to launch an update to enable sideloading of apps in Europe.
This will allow EU users to install third-party apps on their iOS devices, a significant shift from Apple’s previous policy, which limited app installation exclusively to the official App Store.
The decision to create a separate App Store for the EU appears to be a direct response to the demands of antitrust legislation and ongoing regulatory pressure in the region.
The deadline for companies to adapt to the DMA is until March 7, and Apple is working to comply with the new regulations in a timely manner.
In addition to the European Union, other countries, such as Japan and the United States, are also considering adopting similar laws that require opening the iOS platform for sideloading of apps and the use of alternative payment methods.
This global trend indicates that Apple may eventually be forced to implement changes globally, rather than dealing with each country individually regarding antitrust issues.
