DMA Rollout: Apple To Bring New Fees, Policies And Review Apps Downloaded Outside App Store In Europe

Apple is planning to add new fees and restrictions when it begins allowing people to download apps outside of the iPhone's closed ecosystem.

Apple is set to unveil new policy adjustments aligning with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in Europe. By March, these changes will allow iPhone app sideloading, in a bid to reduce Apple’s monopolistic control of software on iOS. In response to the European law which involves segregating the ‌App Store‌ in the EU from its global counterpart to meet the new legal requirements, the iPhone maker is gearing up to introduce fresh fees and restrictions for third-party software downloads beyond its App Store, says a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Apple is planning to add new fees and restrictions when it begins allowing people to download apps outside of the iPhone's closed ecosystem, the report noted.

This exclusive plan for the region signifies a departure from Apple's traditional approach of closely managing software distribution on its devices.

In contrast, due to its open-source nature, Android users have the ability to sideload apps -- an aspect that Apple has historically avoided associating with iOS. However, shifting market dynamics and regulatory pressure are compelling the iPhone maker to conform and provide users with the choice to install apps from alternative app stores.

However, the details of this transition remain uncertain. According to insights from the Wall Street Journal, Apple intends to permit apps outside the App Store for the first time. However, the report adds that Apple is expected to continue imposing fees and implementing app review processes for sideloaded apps.

In the US, Apple is asking developers to pay a 27 per cent commission for external links to alternative payment systems, contrary to the initial expectation of some developers who believed they could avoid Apple's 30 per cent commission by not utilising "In-App Purchase".

It is to be noted that Apple is set to implement these adjustments in the next few weeks, which involve segregating the ‌App Store‌ in the EU from its global counterpart to meet the new legal requirements. This means Apple will have two versions of the App Store: one for the EU and the other for the global markets. The deadline for Apple to adhere to the DMA is March 7, giving the company just over seven weeks to implement the necessary changes.