Apple has just announced a series of significant changes to its mobile operating system, web browser and app store, to comply with new EU regulations that will affect its products and services.
We have known for several weeks now that important changes were on the horizon at Apple, and the American giant has finally revealed all the changes it will make to iOS, Safari, but also the App Store.
These changes, which will be introduced in iOS 17.4 in March, will give EU users more choices and options for downloading apps, browsing the web and paying for digital goods and services. However, Apple is not happy with these new rules and says they will harm user experience and the security of its devices.
Apple will finally comply with new European rules
The major changes planned for iOS are part of the European Digital Markets Act, which aims to limit the power and practices of large technology companies, such as Apple, Google, Meta and Amazon.
The Digital Markets Act, which was adopted in 2022 and will come into force in March, includes several rules that apply to “gatekeepers”, i.e. large online platforms that provide trading services. database, such as application stores, search engines, social networks and messaging services.
The DMA requires gatekeepers to allow users to access and use other platformsthat they uninstall pre-installed appsthat they modify the default servicesthat they return their platforms interoperable with their rivals and that they do not abuse their market position or their data.
What changes are planned for iOS with the 17.4 update?
One of the biggest changes Apple will have to make is to allow other application stores and payment systems on iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad. Until now, Apple only allowed users to download apps from its own App Store, and required developers to use its own payment system and pay a commission of up to 30%. on digital goods and services.
Under the new rules, EU users will be able to download apps from other sources, such as third-party websites or app stores, and developers will be able to use other payment systems and pay a fee. lower commission, 17%, to Apple. Users will also be able to set an app store other than the App Store as the default app on their device.
Another major change Apple will have to make is allowing other browser engines on iOS, which is the technology that powers web browsers. So far, Apple only allowed web browsers that use its own browser engine, called WebKit, which is the engine behind Safari, its own web browser. WebKit is not the only browser engine on the market, as there are others, such as Chromium, used by Google’s Chrome and many other browsers, and Gecko, used by Mozilla’s Firefox
Under the new rules, EU users will be able to use web browsers that use other browser engines, and developers will be able to create browsers or in-app browsers that use other browser engines. Users will also be able to directly choose another default browser when they open Safari for the first time.
Apple is also set to allow developers in the European Economic Area to offer NFC payments in their third-party applications, which will allow users to pay with their device using contactless technology. Developers will also be able to choose to use Apple’s payment services and in-app purchases or integrate with a third-party payment system without paying additional fees to Apple. However, if they want to stick with Apple’s existing in-app payment system, they will have to pay an additional 3% processing fee.
At the iMessage level, Apple was also forced to announce the imminent adoption of RCS, the new protocol which replaces SMS. However, messages between iPhone and Android will remain green, because Apple wants to keep the blue bubbles for iMessage. Despite this, this is excellent news for all users, since iPhone owners will no longer have to go through the insecure SMS system when communicating with an Android smartphone.
iPhone users will be able to play games in the cloud
The new rules will also affect other aspects of the iOS ecosystem, such as game streaming and NFC payments. From now on, Apple opens its App Store to game streaming apps and services, such as Xbox Cloud Streaming and GeForce Nowwhich were previously only accessible on iOS through a web browser.
This means that users will be able to enjoy a full gaming experience on their devices, without having to download the games. Developers will be able to offer a single app that can stream all the games in their catalog, but Apple cautions that each game will need to meet App Store rating guidelines and the host app’s age rating.
Apple fears new rules put users at risk
Apple is clearly unhappy with these new rules and says they will disrupt user experience and compromise the security and privacy of its devices. The company says the new rules will force users to confront a list of default browsers and app stores before they have a chance to understand the options available to them, and that the new options will interrupt their experience when they open Safari.
Apple also reaffirms that the practice of “sideloading”, already possible on Android, is not safe. According to her, theAlternative app stores and browser engines pose a security and performance riskand that only its own App Store and WebKit are truly optimized and secure for its devices.
Only European users are affected by these changes
The new rules will only apply to users in the EU, not those in other regions. Apple says it will allow European users to travel without breaking their browser engine or app store, but that it will ensure that only accounts belonging to people living in the EU benefit from these new features.
In other regions, users will continue to benefit from WebKit Chrome and WebKit at all, and will still be limited to the App Store and Apple’s payment system. However, what is certain is that these new rules are expected to have a significant impact on the digital economy and society in the EU and beyond, and could encourage other regions to adopt similar measures.