Europe gives Apple 6 months to “unlock” the iPad in the same way as the iPhone: third-party stores are arriving

We all thought that with the advent of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), third-party store obligations would be limited to the iPhone as a mainstream product. However, Europe has other plans. The European Commission has just classified iPadOS, and therefore the iPad, as a device likely to comply with DMA standards, so the same rules as the iPhone apply from now on.

De facto, this means that the Apple tablet must also comply with the requirements of the regulations, and open your system to third party app stores, along with other requirements of European legislation. Apple now has six months to ensure iPadOS fully complies with its DMA obligations. The same deadline that was given, by the way, to the iPhone.

According to Europe, although iPadOS does not meet the quantitative thresholds set by the WFD, it represents an important channel for professional users to reach ordinary users, and designates it as gatekeepera classification that requires guaranteeing full compliance with DMA obligations.

The iPad will also need to include third-party app stores.

The Commission believes that Apple Takes a Strong Position on iPadOSand although today your system numbers are not those that DMA requires, you will be able to in the near future and therefore you must follow the rules:

Today we included Apple’s iPadOS as part of our DMA commitments. Our market research has shown that despite not meeting thresholds, iPadOS is an important gateway that many businesses rely on to reach their customers. Today’s decision will ensure that the platform remains fair and competitive, in addition to the other 22 services we outlined last September. Apple has six months to bring iPadOS into DMA compliance.

Margrethe Vestager, Vice President of Competitions

And what does all this mean? well then The iPad will receive the same mode as the iPhone. Third-party app stores that allow small businesses to offer their products to customers outside of the platform, third-party payment processors that unlock key system features…

Now, it remains to be seen when Apple will be able to take the necessary steps to make the iPad compliant with DMA specifications, but given the six-month window, it doesn’t seem like it’s something we’ll see before the end of the year. year, as is the case with the iPhone. Except, there is no obligation to offer it to users outside the European Union.so it’s likely that the same conditions as with the iPhone will continue, at least for now.

For its part, Apple confirms that will comply with the DMA guidelines following the announcement by the European Commission in all services to which these rules apply.. The company released the following statement regarding the classification of iPadOS under the Digital Markets Act.

“We will continue to work constructively with the European Commission to comply with the Digital Markets Act in all designated services. Our priority remains to offer the best products and services to our European customers, while mitigating new risks to privacy and data security. what the Digital Markets Act does for our users.”

Apple Statement