Apple uses the App Store to regulate which apps users can install on the iPhone. A new law in the USA is intended to wrest this control away from the company.
The developers of the two largest mobile operating systems, Apple and Google, are facing increasing political pressure. With the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, companies have control over which apps users can install on their end devices.
Politicians want to snatch the App Store monopoly from Apple
Both Apple and Google charge app developers a fee for using the App Store as a sales platform. In the past, the fee was 30 percent of revenue. But in the face of political pressure and several lawsuits (including against game developer Epic Games), that has now changed. Now developers with less income only have to give about 15 percent to Apple and Google.
A new bill would see Apple and Google lose control of their app stores. So-called “sideloading” should enable users to install apps from other sources. These sources can be not only other, alternative app stores, but also an online app database. In addition, developers should be able to sell their apps via alternative payment processing systems. Thus, they would no longer be affected by the payment fee that Apple and Google charge for an app being available for sale in their app stores.
Apple in particular would be affected by such a law, as it has not yet allowed any sources other than its own app store. Since the introduction of the Play Store (formerly Marketplace), Google has allowed the installation of apps from other stores or the Internet – at your own risk. Both would also have to fear a loss of revenue if developers can use their apps through payment methods other than those of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Also interesting: How to install Android apps without Google’s Play Store
Senate committee approves draft
Supporters of the bill argue that Apple and Google’s unrivaled dominance of their app stores and high fees are driving up prices for consumers. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn said that “big tech” “needs to have guard rails.”
But the Open App Market Act (Law for an Open App Market) is intended to force companies to even go a step further. The bill was introduced by US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Amy Klobuchar (Democrats), and US Senator Marsha Blackburn (Republican). The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the draft on Thursday.
Apple warns against undermining the App Store
In an open letter to the Senate, however, Apple warns of the effects that implementing the draft into applicable law could have. “Sideloading” apps from sources other than the Apple App Store would defeat any safeguards the company would otherwise use to protect users.
In the letter, Tim Powderly, Apple’s head of government affairs, writes: “Sideloading would allow malicious actors to bypass Apple’s privacy and security protections by downloading apps without critical control of theExpel privacy and security. The regulations would allow the spread of malware, fraud and data theft.”