iPhone launch in Europe: Apple reportedly preparing to “split the App Store in two”

In parallel with the launch of Vision Pro, Apple is finalizing another major project: opening the distribution of iOS apps to competition in the European Union. Against its will, the company is gearing up for major changes to the App Store that will be deployed in the coming weeks, Mark Gurman suggests in his latest newsletter.

So far, there has been no disclosure, we know that Apple has to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by March 7 at the latest and it has already known that the new law will end its control over the iPhone. But no journalist Bloomberg

Adds a significant element: According to him, Apple will “Split the App Store in Two” On this occasion. In the coming weeks there will be a European App Store and an App Store for the rest of the world. We don’t know exactly what that means at this point.

So far, the supposed facilities are related to geo-restrictions that can be activated in iOS. Apple has apparently implemented ways to reliably determine users’ geographic location in the latest versions of its systems, so that permission is not granted. Sideloading

than those of Europe. A separate app store for Europe may be a complementary solution to meet DMA obligations.

because Sideloading Apple is not the only criterion that has to be implemented, it also has to simplify the implementation of alternative payment systems, make it possible to uninstall pre-installed applications or put all developers on a truly equal footing.

App Store, iPhone and what DMA will change for Apple

A few weeks before the iPhone was banned and forced open, Tim Cook met Margrethe Vestager