All articles tagged with #third party app stores
Aptoide has made Aptoide Games available on Google Play for Android users in the United States, marking a milestone for third-party app stores on the official Android store. The move follows years of tension between Google and alternative storefronts and a 2024 ruling that opened Play Store to competitors, with Epic Games’ litigation helping spur broader distribution options for developers and more choices for users.
The Verge reports that Google Play Store now hosts Aptoide, the first third‑party Android app store available in the US, a move born from the Epic v. Google case that opens Play Store to rival marketplaces. Aptoide specializes in mobile games and can be sideloaded elsewhere; more rival stores (including Epic Store) are expected to follow, with Google pursuing a broader “Registered App Store” approach in markets outside the US.
Aptoide Games is arriving on Google Play in the US, allowing users to install a competing gaming store from within Google’s Play Store and signaling a broader move toward open, multi-store Android app distribution.
Epic Games claims that Apple has reduced barriers for installing third-party app stores on iOS following the EU's Digital Markets Act, leading to a significant decrease in drop-off rates for Epic's store installations, though Epic alleges ongoing anti-competitive behavior by Apple and Google.
Apple's compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act to allow third-party app stores on iPhones is met with reluctance and deliberate obstacles, including a €0.50 Core Technology Fee per app install and a complex installation process. The EU has opened a non-compliance investigation, citing concerns about the security warnings and fees. The convoluted process and fees are likely to deter casual users, leaving only power users to install third-party app stores.
Apple will prevent iPhones from updating software installed by third-party app stores if the device leaves the EU for more than 30 days, following the EU's Digital Markets Act. Users can still use alternative app marketplaces while traveling, but must return to the EU for updates. This policy may inconvenience frequent travelers, and several developers are preparing to launch third-party app stores. To reflect the changes, users in the EU can install alternative app marketplaces and apps in iOS 17.4 or later, with specific location and Apple ID requirements.
Apple's iOS 17.4 update brings significant changes for EU users, allowing third-party app stores and payment options, as well as opening up the NFC chip for wireless payments. Other global features include automatic podcast transcriptions, new emoji, battery health updates, Siri improvements, stolen device protection, and more. The update also extends to iPadOS 17.4, with other operating systems expected to follow suit.
Apple Fellow Phil Schiller expressed major concerns about the risks associated with the changes to the App Store, including the introduction of third-party app marketplaces and in-app purchase options, as mandated by the Digital Markets Act in the European Union. Schiller highlighted the potential for increased exposure to objectionable content and experiences for users and families, as well as the lack of familiar rules and limitations in these alternative marketplaces, ultimately raising the risk for iPhone users.
Microsoft is planning to launch a third-party app store for games on iPhones, taking advantage of Apple's need to comply with antitrust requirements. While Apple will likely have to allow third-party app stores, it remains to be seen if the changes will be limited to EU countries or implemented globally. The introduction of third-party app stores may offer users more choice and potentially lower commissions for developers, but many iPhone users are expected to stick with Apple's App Store due to inertia, comfort, and perceived security.
Code found in the iOS 17.2 beta suggests that Apple may allow iPhone users to sideload apps from third-party app stores, a practice previously prohibited by the company. The code includes a region lock feature, potentially limiting sideloading to specific countries. This development aligns with the EU Digital Markets Act, which states that mobile device users should have the ability to install apps from third-party stores. Apple has until March to comply with the DMA, but it is likely to resist sideloading and other potential changes.
Apple has stated in its latest 10-K filing that it "expects to make further business changes in the future, including as a result of legislative initiatives impacting the App Store," such as the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The company is reportedly preparing to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone and is required to comply with the DMA by March 2024.