CMA shelves app store probes to leverage digital market powers

Signalling its intent to leverage new powers granted by the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act (DMCCA), the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has closed its investigations into Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store.

The investigations – launched over concerns that both tech giants were unfairly leveraging their dominant market positions, to the detriment of UK app developers and consumers – focused primarily on rules mandating the use of proprietary...

21 August 2024 | Android

Epic Store debuts on EU iPhones

Epic Games has launched its own app store on iPhones in the EU. The launch comes in the wake of the EU's Digital Markets Act, which has compelled Apple to open its platform to third-party app marketplaces.

EU iPhone users can now access the Epic Games Store by visiting Epic's website on their devices, provided they are running iOS 17.4 or later. The store's initial offering is limited, featuring Epic's own titles such as Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe, with plans to expand...

16 August 2024 | App Stores

App Store policies spark Patreon backlash

Patreon, the platform empowering creators to build sustainable income through direct fan support, finds itself at odds with Apple over the tech giant's stringent App Store policies.

The latest dispute over App Store rules centres on Apple's requirement for all iOS app transactions to be processed through their in-app purchase system, a move that Patreon argues undermines their creator-centric philosophy.

In a statement, Patreon explained:

"Patreon exists to...

13 August 2024 | App Stores

Apple updates Developer app ahead of WWDC 2024

Apple has released an update to its Apple Developer app in preparation for WWDC 2024, scheduled to commence next Monday.

The revamped Developer app will serve as the hub for 2024 session videos, 1-on-1 labs with Apple engineers and designers, and additional resources. Apple will stream the WWDC keynote event, the Platforms State of the Union, and other developer sessions throughout the week via the app.

With the update, Apple has introduced new features and enhancements...

4 June 2024 | App Stores

Microsoft to launch web-based mobile app store in July

At the Bloomberg Technology Summit, Microsoft’s President of Xbox, Sarah Bond, declared that the company is set to launch its new mobile store this July. This long-discussed move aims to establish an alternative to dominant marketplaces like the App Store and Play Store.

Unlike traditional approaches, Microsoft plans to roll out its mobile game store via the web, rather than as a native application. This strategy allows the company to circumvent restrictive app store policies...

10 May 2024 | Android

EU classifies iPadOS as a ‘gatekeeper’ subject to DMA rules

The European Commission has classified Apple's iPadOS as a “gatekeeper" under the EU's new tech competition rules, subjecting it to strict requirements aimed at promoting fairness and expanding consumer choice.

"The Digital Markets Act is a dynamic tool which allows us to tackle the realities of digital markets," said Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition chief

In a press release on Monday, the Commission stated that its investigation found Apple "presents the...

29 April 2024 | App Stores

Apple enables web distribution for iOS developers targeting EU users

Apple has announced that iOS app developers targeting EU users are now able to directly offer downloads from their own websites. This shift comes as a response to the EU's new Digital Markets Act (DMA), requiring major tech platforms to open up their ecosystems and ensure a more competitive market.

Historically, Apple has maintained a notorious "walled garden" for its iOS ecosystem, with the App Store being the sole gateway for downloading apps on iPhone devices. However, the new...

17 April 2024 | Developer

Apple responds to accusation of skirting antitrust ruling

Apple has requested that a judge dismisses a new complaint by Epic Games, which accuses the Cupertino-based company of failing to adhere to an earlier antitrust ruling.

The dispute initially ignited when Epic Games implemented its own in-app payment system within the iPhone platform, effectively sidestepping the App Store's standard 30 percent commission fee. Apple retaliated by expelling Epic from the App Store, citing a clear violation of its terms and conditions.

The...

15 April 2024 | App Stores

Apple relaxes App Store rules to permit game emulators

Apple has loosened its App Store rules to permit the inclusion of "retro game console emulator apps" on its platform.

This move comes after years of pressure from users and legislators, particularly in Europe, where enthusiasts previously had to resort to jailbreaking their devices or using complex workarounds to access emulation apps on their iPhones.

In an update to its App Review Guidelines at the end of last week, Apple confirmed the policy change. While app...

8 April 2024 | App Stores

Apple refutes all of the DoJ’s antitrust claims

Apple has firmly rejected the US Department of Justice's (DoJ) antitrust claims, dismissing them as either outdated or misrepresentations of the company's business model.

The DoJ's antitrust lawsuit against Apple alleges that the tech giant has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act on multiple fronts, including imposing restrictive contracts and commissions on developers, limiting the functionality of non-Apple apps, and diminishing the capabilities of competing products...

27 March 2024 | App Stores