Apple Inc. AAPL released the first beta version of iOS 17.5, which now allows users in the European Union to download apps directly from developer websites.
What happened: The new feature, introduced in the latest iOS update, complies with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and follows Apple’s previous move to allow app distribution through alternative marketplaces in the EU.
Apple initially limited the availability of apps to those markets, but later announced plans to support direct downloads of apps from websites.
To qualify, developers must meet certain criteria, including being a member of the Apple Developer Program for at least two consecutive years and having an app with more than one million initial installs on iOS in the EU in the previous year.
See also: Apple quietly unveils new AI model ReALM that outperforms OpenAI GPT-4 despite being ‘much lighter and faster’
Authorized developers will receive an API from Apple, allowing them to offer their apps for download from the web, as first noted by Macrumors.
Namely, these applications will not be subject to Apple’s commission, but will be responsible for a €0.50 fee for the underlying technology.
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Why it matters: Apple’s move follows a series of changes in application distribution policy in the EU.
In January, the company introduced sideloading apps exclusively for EU users with the release of iOS 17.4 beta.
Later in March, Apple announced that it would allow downloads of apps directly from websites, under certain conditions.
These changes are the result of the DMA, which aims to promote fair competition and consumer choice in the digital market.
While these changes benefit developers and users, they could potentially cost developers Meta Platforms Inc. millions in annual payments to Apple.
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Waiver: This content was produced in part with the help of Benzingo Neuro, and was reviewed and published by Benzingo editors.
Photographed by Bagus Hernawan on Unsplash