Fee-sible Apple plan
Challenge to EU’s new app competition law
Apple is reportedly preparing to impose new fees and restrictions on software downloads outside of its App Store, in what could be a “major test” of Europe’s attempts to enforce a law aimed at boosting tech competition.
It’s part of the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant’s effort to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act ahead of a March 7 deadline, while also maintaining its hold on revenue generated by software downloads on its device.
Apple will allow iPhone users to download apps from other app stores for the first time ever as part of the plan, a practice known as “sideloading.”
Nevertheless, Apple will still maintain the power to review all apps downloaded from other app stores onto its devices, sources familiar with the company’s thinking told The Wall Street Journal.
Apple also will charge fees from developers who offer downloads separate from the App Store.
The size of those potential fees was not known. The plan would only apply to Europe, not the US.
If it is enacted, Apple’s plan could face opposition from software developers who expected to offer downloads without such restrictions, the Journal noted.
It also remains to be seen if EU regulators will consider the plan to be compliant with its rules, or as an effort by Apple to skirt attempts to loosen its dominant hold on the app marketplace.
To that end, European Commission officials have reportedly met with Apple and other tech firms to go over their plans to comply.
That included a meeting earlier this month between Apple CEO Tim Cook and commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, a top antitrust official, according to the Journal.
Apple has yet to formally announce any details of its plans and the Journal said they could still change.
Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Apple has been steadily pouring resources into the pursuit of advanced intelligence products and is reportedly planning to integrate the features into future versions of its iPhones, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.