Constrained and forced, Apple unveiled several new features on January 25 that will apply to users in the 27 member states of the European Union at the beginning of March. To comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Apple brand had to loosen the grip on its application ecosystem made up of its operating system (iOS), its web browser (Safari) and the ‘App Store.
The most notable change, Apple is ending its monopoly on the distribution of applications. Developers like iPhone, iPad or Mac owners currently have no choice but to fall under the caudal forks of the App Store, the in-house application store and its particularly high commissions.
In the coming months, alternative app stores to the App Store will be allowed. Apple will provide developers with a new framework and APIs to download iOS applications from these third-party stores. The Apple firm nevertheless retains control over applications published outside the App Store. In the same spirit, Apple allows developers to use a payment system other than Apple Pay.
You leave the App Store at your own risk
A bad player, the Cupertino company nevertheless plays on users’ fear. She argues that “ New payment processing and app download options on iOS open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illegal and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats . »
Despite the protective measures put in place, “ many risks remain », continues Apple which, ahead of the changes made in March, will inform users about the different options available to them and about “ best practices to protect their privacy and security. »
Concerning Safari, Apple will favor the possibility of setting a browser other than its own by default. With the new beta version of iOS 17.4, a new choice screen will appear when Safari is first opened, offering users to choose another default browser from several options.
Here again, the American manufacturer makes an anxiety-provoking comment. He fears that “ Applications that use other browser engines (other than Apple’s WebKit) may negatively impact the user experience, including impacts on system performance and battery life. »
A decreasing commission rate but…
The developers are faced with a difficult choice. Should they stay on the official store, whose reputation is well established, or opt for an alternative “app store” and payment system? To keep developers in its ecosystem, Apple uses sticks and carrots.
On the carrot side, a new price scale will apply. For iOS applications downloaded from the App Store, commissions will be reduced to 10% – for the vast majority of small developers – or 17% on transactions for digital goods and services, compared to 15 and 30% previously. Developers who continue to use its payment system will pay 3% additional fees.
On the stick side, Apple suggests that this is a journey of no return for developers, once their choice is made. The creation of a third-party application store is, moreover, subject to authorization. A financial guarantee of at least one million euros would be required according to general conditions published on.
…a new right of passage
Furthermore, the Apple brand is introducing a new tax called “Core Technology Fee”, a sort of access fee to its terminals, of 50 euro cents per installation per year. It applies to applications hosted in the App Store or in a third-party store beyond the threshold of one million downloads per year. A package that could heavily penalize free and freemium applications or “killer apps” such as Fortnite (Epic Games) or Spotify.
While he welcomed Apple’s announcements, European Commissioner Thierry Breton indicated to the Reuters agency that Brussels will evaluate the proposal from the digital giants affected by the DMA. “ If the solutions proposed are not sufficient, we will not hesitate to take strong measures. »