Apple will open up the iPhone to sideloading, allowing third-party app stores, from March 7 when the Digital Markets Act (DMA) kicks in. It is important to note that this change will only happen in the 27 nations of the European Union (EU). Apple App Store head Phil Schiller has already warned about sideloading risks on iPhone and now the company has released a guidance paper several agencies have concerns about allowing “alternate marketplaces” on its most successful product.
Apple said that a number of government agencies in the EU and elsewhere have voiced concerns about security risks of opening up its iPhones and iPads to rival app stores to comply with the region’s tech rules.
Under these rules, apart from offering alternative app stores on iPhones, Apple will be required to allow developers to opt out of using its in-app payment system, which charges fees of up to 30%. Lawmakers in the EU said that this change will help open up the market for apps.
“These agencies – especially those serving essential functions such as defence, banking, and emergency services – have reached out to us about these new changes,” Apple said in a guidance paper.
“One EU government agency informed us that it had neither the funding nor the personnel to review and approve apps for its devices, and so planned to continue to rely on Apple and the App Store because it trusts us to comprehensively vet apps,” Apple noted.
The company also noted that the agencies wanted assurances that they would be able to prevent government employees from sideloading apps onto government-purchased iPhones and that several said they planned to block sideloading on every device they manage.
What is sideloading
Sideloading refers to the installation of an app on a device without using the official app store. iPhone users need to install the apps through the App Store, and Apple doesn’t allow an option for iPhone users to download apps from the web or alternate app stores.
It is to be noted that Google has Play Store as an official app store for Android, which allows installing apps from unofficial sources like APKs but strongly warns against it. It has echoed concerns raised by Apple that allowing third-party app stores could pose a risk to users.
Apple said that a number of government agencies in the EU and elsewhere have voiced concerns about security risks of opening up its iPhones and iPads to rival app stores to comply with the region’s tech rules.
Under these rules, apart from offering alternative app stores on iPhones, Apple will be required to allow developers to opt out of using its in-app payment system, which charges fees of up to 30%. Lawmakers in the EU said that this change will help open up the market for apps.
“These agencies – especially those serving essential functions such as defence, banking, and emergency services – have reached out to us about these new changes,” Apple said in a guidance paper.
“One EU government agency informed us that it had neither the funding nor the personnel to review and approve apps for its devices, and so planned to continue to rely on Apple and the App Store because it trusts us to comprehensively vet apps,” Apple noted.
The company also noted that the agencies wanted assurances that they would be able to prevent government employees from sideloading apps onto government-purchased iPhones and that several said they planned to block sideloading on every device they manage.
What is sideloading
Sideloading refers to the installation of an app on a device without using the official app store. iPhone users need to install the apps through the App Store, and Apple doesn’t allow an option for iPhone users to download apps from the web or alternate app stores.
It is to be noted that Google has Play Store as an official app store for Android, which allows installing apps from unofficial sources like APKs but strongly warns against it. It has echoed concerns raised by Apple that allowing third-party app stores could pose a risk to users.
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