Apple is introducing a wide range of changes with the release of iOS 17.4 in March. The company is bound to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone and the ability to sideload apps from outside the official App Store. However, the changes are slated to occur in the countries under the European Union. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is unhappy with the changes Apple brings forward under the Digital Markets Act.
Apple's compliance with the EU regulations was criticized by Meta CEO, calling it 'onerous'
Mark Zuckerberg spoke to investors at Meta's earnings call on Thursday, stating that Apple's forthcoming changes for the App Store are 'so onerous'. He also said he would be surprised if any developer adopted the changes. Zuckerberg refers to Apple's decision to allow third-party app stores and payment methods on the iPhone, suggesting that Apple's system will be complicated and tedious for developers to adopt.
"I don't think that the Apple thing is going to have any difference for us. Because I think that the way they have implemented it, I would be very surprised if any developer chose to go into the alternative app stores that they have. They've made it so onerous, and I think so at odds with the intent of what the EU regulation was, that I think it's just going to be very difficult for anyone, including ourselves, to really seriously entertain what they're doing there."
With the release of iOS 17.4 beta 1 to developers, we have seen quite a handful of changes Apple implemented for the App Store. While some changes will be implemented on all Apple products, the ability to sideload apps and install alternative app stores will be exclusive to the iPhone. Apple is bound to change the App Store to eliminate anticompetitive practices, allowing the bloc's app community equal rights.
Developers can also offer their payment methods on the iPhone, but Apple has devised strict guidelines for the process. The company also introduced a fee structure for third-party developers, including a €0.50 "Core Technology Fee" for every app a user installs over a million mark. This will make the App Store a better deal for developers with free apps.
Meta is not the only company criticizing Apple's compliance with the EU. Spotify and Epic Games also called Apple's practices a "false pretense of compliance and concessions." Microsoft stated that the changes are a step in the wrong direction. Apple will officially announce iOS 17.4 ahead of March 6, which is the deadline imposed by the EU to make changes. It remains to be seen how developers can make use of Apple's guidelines and if offering a third-party payment system or app on the iPhone is a wise choice.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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