In response to pressure from European Union authorities, the American electronics giant Apple has announced allowing users of its iPhone smartphones in EU countries to download apps directly to their devices from the websites of these app developers, without the need to use its electronic store, the “App Store,” as reported by the German news agency.
The recent move, also known as “sideloading,” is Apple’s commitment to the new European Digital Markets Act, which aims to compel tech giants to improve levels of fair competition in the market.
Apple stated through its support page that “downloading apps from any internet site directly requires user responsibility and monitoring of the user experience, including the ability to manage apps, provide technical support, and refund due money,” adding that “Apple will allow developers to provide this service after meeting specific criteria and committing to the required regulations that protect users.”
It’s worth noting that Apple had opposed allowing so-called “sideloading,” scheduled to begin activation during the current spring, citing security risks to users’ devices, as the company would not be able to provide technical support or refunds to users or address any privacy violations.
The American company stated that for any developer to be allowed to provide the direct download service to users, they must meet a set of standards, including having their app downloaded one million times on Apple devices operating on the “iOS” operating system in its first year in the European Union.
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