In a significant move driven by the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), tech giant Apple has announced pivotal changes to its App Store policies.
Set to roll out this spring, the amendments will grant software developers the ability to distribute their apps directly to European Union users from their own websites, bypassing the traditional confines of the App Store.
The DMA, which recently came into effect, mandates Apple to open up its closed ecosystem, compelling the company to permit alternative app stores on iPhones and enabling developers to opt out of utilizing Apple's in-app payment system, notorious for its hefty fees of up to 30%.
In a blog post released on Tuesday, Apple stated, "We're providing more flexibility for developers who distribute apps in the European Union, including introducing a new way to distribute apps directly from a developer's website."
Under the new framework, authorised developers will gain access to application programming interfaces (APIs) facilitating the distribution of their apps from the web. These APIs will seamlessly integrate with system functionalities, enable app backup and restoration, among other capabilities.
Furthermore, developers establishing alternative app marketplaces will now be able to exclusively offer apps developed by the marketplace creator immediately. Apple's revised approach also affords developers the autonomy to design in-app promotions, discounts, and other incentives when directing users to complete transactions on their websites, rather than through Apple's predefined templates.
