EU drops another bomb on Apple

Apple is again under heavy pressure from the EU. This time around, they may be forced to open up to other app stores and support sideloading of apps on the iPhone. The EU has passed another law that puts Apple in the spotlight.

The new law requires companies to meet gatekeeper standards, but it is clear that Apple has not done this, at least as far as the company's operations and revenues are concerned, to avoid EU scanners.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires messaging apps to be interoperable. That would force Apple to work with RCS Messages on Google and even share that network with Whatsapp.

Sideloading on iPhone may become possible in the near future

But the bigger concern for Apple has to do with the App Store. The DMA wants companies to open up their platforms to third-party app stores, which is already possible with Android, but the prospect of working with developers on an interoperable level leaves Apple behind.

That's not all. Apple may also be forced to allow sideloading on iOS. This is something the company has always opposed for security reasons. It must be said that the EU has been aggressive in recent years with various measures, putting brands like Apple in a position where changes in their policies are inevitable.

Earlier this year, the EU passed legislation requiring all mobile devices to support USB-C charging. Apple has already confirmed that it will comply with the law but has not provided a timeline for implementing the change.

And the new DMA ruling is another hammer in that plan, forcing companies to comply with the new terms by March 6, 2024. Changes to Apple's charging standards must also be implemented by 2024. That means the iPhone 15 variant could feature USB-C for charging.

Personal take on the issue

I am all for USB-C on iPhones but forcing companies (Apple or any other) to make such drastic changes does not seem fair. After all, if all companies share the same standards there will be no competition between them. And ultimately no competition means slow innovation.