Apple has always been a rather suspicious company with its technologies and business decisions , something that is not entirely bad. However, lately this policy is costing them a lot of headaches. Some tests? Its controversial legal battle against Epic Games, the monopolistic accusations in different countries or the obligation by the EU to use USB-C connectors from 2024, something that Apple has always fought against.
Now, the approval of a new legal instrument within the European Union puts those from Cupertino on the ropes (again). What is it about this time? Apple will soon have to design its own APKs for the iPhone , because the DMA has been approved.
Apple will have to allow the sideloading of apps and alternative stores in iOS
Install apps on an iPhone from outside the App Store? It seems impossible, but the European Union could force Apple to make it happen. A year ago, the European Commission began drafting and debating the Digital Markets Law (DMA) and now they have approved it. Among many other things, with it, Apple could be forced to break two of its most rigid dogmas: allow alternative payment gateways in iOS and the (legal) installation of applications from outside the App Store.
More specifically, the DMA could force Apple to allow alternative app stores to be installed on iOS. That, and allow downloading an installation package from external sources and uploading it directly to iOS (sideloading), as in Android. Does that mean Apple would have to design its own APK package? It probably already exists, but what will actually happen is that now those app bundles will be able to be found and installed from outside the App Store.
As expected, Tim Cook and company are totally against something like this, something they have expressed before. Their allegations are the same as always, security and privacy, so it is foreseeable that they will try to appeal at all times. Even so, the European Commission is unlikely to yield, because it is a body that is clearly against excessively closed policies and monopolies.
Is it a fact that it will be that way? Not yet, because the DMA is only now being approved and its consequences will be felt later. Apple has not yet ruled on the matter because the EU has not made a direct statement, but they will surely call them a chapter at some point. Will they get away with it like in previous opportunities? Will have to wait to find out.
iMessage could become cross-platform and interact with other apps, by obligation
Directly related to the above, another problem that Apple could face after the approval of the DMA has to do with iMessage. According to 9to5Mac , the messaging app for iOS could be forced to change soon.
The reason is that the European Commission agreed that messaging apps should open up and interoperate against smaller platforms . This can be interpreted in two ways: that iMessage becomes a cross-platform app that also works on Android and Windows; that iMessage can communicate with other apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and other alternatives to send messages (obviously, the others would do the same).
The former would be great as the only way to get iMessage on Android is through cheats. However, the second would be amazing because you could talk to anyone through your favorite app , even if the other doesn’t have it installed. Will it happen? Unfortunately, we still don’t know.
Source | European Parliament
