Thanks to the European Union’s (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is set to revamp its closed ecosystem, making it simpler for iPhone users to switch to Android. The company’s plan to comply with the DMA was recently revealed in a document, bringing some key changes. Here’s everything you need to know about:
Apple’s Upcoming User-Friendly Solutions
Apple is focused on providing user-friendly solutions, specifically enabling easy data transfer between iPhones and non-Apple phones. However, this feature isn’t expected until the fall of next year, so users will have to wait a little longer.
Along with the data transfer, Apple’s document mentions the development of the default browser and navigation app. A “browser switching solution” is also in the works, and it is expected to arrive in late 2024 or early 2025. It will allow users to transfer data to other browsers on the same device.
This indicates that those wanting to ditch Safari can do so by the end of 2024.
Moreover, regarding navigation apps, Apple users in the EU can change their default app by March 2025. However, the question is whether these changes will extend beyond the EU. Given Apple’s previous DMA compliance measures, it seems likely that these changes will be exclusive to EU users.
Additionally, Apple is exploring introducing alternative payments on the App Store and is also “expanding iOS interoperability.” However, there’s no word whether or not there will be support for third-party chat apps with iMessage. This is something that Meta will launch and has been detailed recently.
What is the Digital Markets Act?
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a European law that aims to make things fair in the “online world” for smaller businesses and consumers. It looks at big tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple to stop them from using their power too much, making competition difficult.
Some Other Changes that Apple Made Due to the EU
Recently, there were reports that Apple will soon allow third-party App stores to operate on iOS. MacPaw, the tech company behind Setapp, is set to become the first third-party app store and will soon make its app store available on iPhones as an alternative to the Apple App Store in April 2024.
Furthermore, Apple finally launched their iPhone 15 series this year with a USB Type-C port, which was also to comply with the EU. The DMA mandates a standard charging port for specific electronic devices in the EU.
