Apple may be planning a massive change to the way users download and install apps on the iPhone, at least in the EU where third-party app stores may go live.
Apple is reportedly preparing to do the unthinkable: let users download apps from third-party sources on their iPhones, and not limit them to the App Store. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that « software engineering and services employees are engaged in a major push to open up key elements of Apple’s platforms. » The bombshell report claims that Apple will allow app installation on iPhones and iPads from alternative app stores. The alleged changes are said to be in motion ahead of the EU’s planned digital market reforms that go into effect in 2024.
The reported changes — assuming they actually turn out to be true — would be a massive shift in ecosystem policies for Apple. In the past, the company repeatedly argued that allowing users to download applications from third-party repositories will undermine the safety aspect because Apple applies stringent security checks for everything that gets listed on the App Store.
