iOS 17 will allow you to install applications without going to the App Store

Apple is preparing to introduce an entirely new fleet of devices. From the widespread rumors of VR goggles to the next iPhone 15 completely different from what we knew. Now iOS 17 can be added to this list of radical updates. And report Mark Gurman seems to point to one thing: this will be the first version of Cupertino’s mobile operating system allow installation of applications in alternative ways. That is, They will be able to install apps without going to the App Store..

Currently, in order to install any application, it must be done from the official App Store, without any alternatives. In addition, developers pay a 15% to 30% commission to Apple for profits from their apps.

If true, iOS 17 should be unveiled with this new feature next June, during WWDC 2023. It’s not just the App Store that’s affected, however. Services like iMessage or FaceTime will also have to adapt to the new rules.. How exactly? According to the laws introduced by the European Union, all instant messaging applications must be compatible with each other, regardless of whether they are competitors. So, if everything goes well, you can talk to whatsapp, Telegram or facebook messenger with someone who uses iMessage, and vice versa.

The Digital Markets Act establishes provisions applicable to platforms that act as “access gates” in the digital sector. These are platforms that have, or are expected to have, long-standing and strong positions, have a significant impact on the domestic market, and serve as important gateways for professional users to access their end users.

European Commission

The European Commission is tired of games from Apple and other big companies

It’s not Apple that’s behind this game, it’s the European Union. In accordance with the Digital Markets Law, which came into force at the end of 2022, Technology companies are required to open their platforms and services. Thus, they can be used by third-party companies and developers to “guarantee fair and open digital markets,” explains the European Commission.

And while it may seem like the European Union wants to get their hands on Apple, that’s not necessarily the case. Despite all their successes, those from Cupertino have become a rather closed company, both in the field of software and hardware. For this, this is the one who fills out all the ballots according to the EU criteria about what an “access gatekeeper” is.

So the body has already established that unless Apple includes a USB-C port in its next generation, its position on the European continent could be seriously threatened. The same thing is happening now with software rules. If you want to continue playing on the old continent, you will have to abide by the new rules without so many detours.

However, since Apple likes to do things its own way, the next iPhone 15 could come as a surprise to the EU. Yes, it will have a USB-C input, but it will only be able to use its full potential if users buy cables specifically designed for Apple products. A twist that the European Commission apparently didn’t foreseebut they didn’t like it.