With iOS 17.4 obtainable and the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) now in power, Apple has formally flipped the change to permit various app marketplaces within the 27 EU nations the place it’s now required to supply different methods of putting in apps on the iPhone.
Within the ideally suited situation undoubtedly imagined by European regulators, it will result in an egalitarian and blissful world the place builders and customers will take pleasure in new freedoms of having the ability to set up apps from wherever, liberated from Apple’s stranglehold on app distribution.
In actuality, the scenario is much extra difficult.
Firstly, this received’t be full sideloading. Even somebody working iOS 17.4 within the 27 EU nations can’t simply seize an app from any previous web site and set up it on their iPhone. As an alternative, apps can solely be distributed by way of various app marketplaces, and Apple nonetheless will get to resolve who can set these up.
Whereas Apple has relaxed its guidelines on who can arrange another app market — builders can now apply with out the beforehand required million-euro letter of credit score so long as they’ve been good App Retailer residents — there are nonetheless hurdles for builders to beat. That’s most likely why we haven’t seen any various app marketplaces on-line but. Just a few have been introduced from lesser-known corporations like Mobivention and MacPaw, and whereas Epic Video games’ had formidable plans to return Fortnite to the iPhone by way of its personal app market, Apple quashed these after it determined the corporate was “verifiably untrustworthy.”
Nonetheless, essentially the most important challenges received’t be confronted simply by builders but additionally by many customers. That’s as a result of Apple is being fairly strict about the place various app marketplaces can be obtainable.
The iPad Isn’t Included
First off, this has been an iPhone-only enterprise from the start. The European Fee considers iPadOS a separate platform that’s not massive sufficient to qualify as a “gatekeeper” beneath the DMA. Meaning Apple isn’t required to supply various app marketplaces or third-party browser engines on the iPad.
That’s going to make issues much more difficult for builders and customers alike since many iPhone apps are “common” ones that additionally run on the iPad. Whereas a developer or an iPhone-only app can stroll away and depart the App Retailer behind, that received’t be an choice for anyone who needs to achieve iPad house owners as nicely.
Add in-app purchases and subscriptions to the combination, and issues may shortly turn out to be untenable. Though a subscription could possibly be bought on the iPhone app by way of another app market and shared with the iPad model distributed by way of the App Retailer, there’s a superb probability Apple received’t enable that — at the least not with out gathering its App Retailer commissions. At that time, the developer would possibly as nicely simply stay on the App Retailer and ignore third-party app marketplaces totally.
Don’t Stray Too Far From Residence
The opposite important wrinkle is that Apple is ensuring customers can’t cheat. These various app marketplaces will solely be obtainable within the 27 EU nations the place Apple has no selection however to allow them. Nonetheless, nothing within the DMA says Apple has to make them obtainable to EU residents wherever on this planet.
As per Apple’s assist doc, not solely does your nation or area must be set to one of many following nations, however you additionally must be bodily situated there:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland (together with the Åland Islands), France (together with French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion, and Saint Martin — however oddly not Saint Pierre and Miquelon), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Eire, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (together with Azores and Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (together with the Canary Islands), and Sweden.
So, what occurs for those who depart a kind of nations? Apple says it can supply a “grace interval” for “short-term journey,” however you’ll be lower off for those who’re gone too lengthy.
Meaning you’ll not solely lose entry to all various app marketplaces but additionally be unable to get updates for any apps you’ve downloaded or bought from them. Apple confirms the apps will proceed to perform, however that’s assuming they don’t want any updates.
Apple doesn’t say precisely how lengthy this grace interval applies, however it can undoubtedly be an issue for expatriates or those that select to maneuver exterior of the EU. In that case, you’ll be caught with the final obtainable model of the app, with no technique to replace it until it’s obtainable on the App Retailer — during which case you’ll must delete it out of your iPhone and reinstall it from there.
Replace (March 7, 2024): Apple has up to date its assist doc to make clear that customers will have the ability to depart the European Union for as much as 30 days with out shedding entry to various app marketplaces:
Should you depart the European Union, you’ll be able to proceed to open and use apps that you just beforehand put in from various app marketplaces. Various app marketplaces can proceed updating these apps for as much as 30 days after you allow the European Union, and you may proceed utilizing various app marketplaces to handle beforehand put in apps. Nonetheless, you have to be within the European Union to put in various app marketplaces and new apps from various app marketplaces.