Apple will soon allow Third Party Apps
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple plans to allow users to install alternative app stores on iOS. The delay would be a notable change from the company, which was known to only allow iPhone and iPad users to download apps from the App Store. The plan is spurred by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which, according to a press release, plans to enact “rules for digital gatekeepers to ensure open markets” when regulation becomes mandatory in 2024.
This law means that Apple must allow not only third-party app stores, but also sideloading, which allows users to install software downloaded from the internet. Apple executives have revealed that software can be sideloaded in response to what was previously described as a cyber criminals best friend. The EU has set relatively complex timelines for complying with the law, with potentially affected companies notifying regulators and commissions deciding whether changes should actually be made.
