In order to be in line with the EU
of the Digital Market Act, Apple has made a big change iOS 17.4 which enables alternative app stores other than the App Store and non-App Store payment methods only in the EU. On March 12, 2024, the company announced that it had introduced a new method for distributing apps directly from the website for the iPhone.
More options for apps distributed in the European Union – Latest News – Apple Developer
https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=8c1m8hqt
Preparing for web distribution in the EU – Support – Apple Developer
https://developer.apple.com/support/web-distribution-eu/
From late spring 2024, developers will be able to directly distribute their own apps on their own websites, limited to the EU. To install an app directly from a website, users must enable “Install apps directly from websites” in their iPhone’s settings.
Apps distributed directly on the website must meet Apple’s notarization guidelines and be reviewed by Apple. When a user installs an app from a website, the system table displays the information the developer sent to Apple, including the app name, developer name, app description, screenshots, and system elapsed time rating. In addition, websites to be distributed must register their domains App Store Connect an application management tool for developers.
In order for developers to distribute applications on their sites, they must meet the following prerequisites.
– Registered in the Apple Developer Program as an organization established and based or registered in the EU. or have a daughter legal entity established and based or registered in the EU.
・You have subscribed to the Apple Developer Program for more than 2 years and have an app that had more than 1 million installs in the EU in the previous year.
・“Enable apps only from a developer account,” “Respond to communications if Apple determines there is a security or privacy issue,” and “Disclose data collection policies so users can understand how apps collect and handle data.” You agree to comply with national and local laws and to be responsible for any governmental or other requests to remove your application listing.
Apple requires developers to pay a “core technology fee” of 0.50 euros (about 80 yen) per install if the number of app installs exceeds one million in the past 12 months. However, non-profit organizations, accredited educational institutions and EU-based government agencies will be exempt from Apple Developer Program annual fees and core technology fees. The underlying technology fee, which is also imposed on alternative app stores, has long been criticized for potentially bankrupting developers of free and free apps.
Apple’s ‘core technology fee’ of approximately ¥80 per install for iOS apps could bankrupt free and free app developers – GIGAZINE
In addition, Apple previously stated that “alternative app store operators must allow third-party app registrations”, but with this announcement, “alternative app store operators must allow third-party app registrations.” Now you can only For example, Meta will be able to operate the iOS app store operated by Meta in the EU and distribute only its own apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.
Furthermore, when embedding a non-App Store payment method link within an app, the link display design is specified in detail, but the link display design is no longer mandatory and is now left to the discretion of the developer. It became.
Apple finally allows “inserting a link to an external billing system” in iPhone apps, but it will be charged – GIGAZINE
