Last update: March 2, 2024, 10:00 AM IST
Apple allows side-loaded apps on iOS in Europe
Apple allowed third-party app stores on iOS for the European market, more like it was forced to open up the platform with new rules.
Apple was forced to open up iOS to sideloading apps, at least in parts of Europe for now, and now we’re seeing some action from companies. Sideloading will be a whole new game for iPhone users in the EU region, where new rules have forced Apple to open up iOS with the latest 17.4 beta version.
Setapp store will be the first third-party app store for iPhone users in the region, who can choose their best apps and install them on the device. The interesting thing about the Setapp store is that it wants to charge a fee to those who want to use the app store and download its apps.
Currently, this app store is available on macOS for a monthly fee of $9.99 (approx. Rs. 830) which gives them access to more than 240 third-party apps from the company. The iOS version of the app store will be available in beta next month, with a full release expected later.
iPhone users will also get the app store through a subscription model, but the twist is that the money you pay gives you access to the full suite of apps in the app store. Apple isn’t happy about opening up iOS to third-party app stores, but the new Digital Marketplace Act (DMA) rules have left them with no choice.
In fact, the company was forced to adopt the USB C port on iPhones by the same regulator, which apparently isn’t done yet. Apple believes that allowing third-party apps on iOS makes the ecosystem less secure and vulnerable to malicious attacks, which is never ideal for any platform.
Apple says it will set strict requirements for installing these third-party apps, but the company can do very little to monitor their operation and access. Setapp store seems like a new twist in the app store ecosystem, one that people will definitely be keeping an eye on in the coming months.
