Apple reportedly plans to allow users to install third-party app stores on iOS devices. The company has traditionally only allowed users to install apps from the App Store, citing security concerns.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the plans to allow third-party app stores were triggered by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law that will require “digital gatekeepers to ensure open markets,” which will come into effect on March 6, 2024.
The law will also require Apple to allow sideloading, where users can install apps downloaded from the web. Previously, Apple said that sideloading is “a cybercriminal’s best friend.”
Bloomberg reported that to maintain security standards, Apple is considering “mandating certain security requirements,” finding a way to verify apps not downloaded from the App Store, and even charging a fee.
The company is also yet to decide whether to allow developers to use third-party payment systems, another requirement of the DMA. It is also undecided on how to make iMessage interoperable with other messaging services, which is also a requirement of the DMA.
The DMA also requires the company to include a USB-C port on iPhones. The company said it would comply with that requirement.
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