Apple Prepares To Open The Door To Third-Party Versions Of App Store

Big changes could be coming to the iPhone with iOS 17. A report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that the technology giant could soon “open up key elements” to its software, which potentially means allowing users to download third-party apps outside of the App Store.

The tech insider posits that the upcoming measures could arrive in response to European Union lawmakers who recently passed the Digital Markets and Services Act to promote fairer competition and prevent dominant platform holders from favoring their own systems.

These changes will potentially roll out alongside iOS 17 next year, as companies have been given till 2024 to comply with the new EU legislation fully. Gurman believes the update will initially be released to those within the bloc before being expanded to other regions worldwide.

As per Engadget, this could signal other changes for Apple’s software, including the possibility that the company could open up its APIs and features, such as those that control its camera technologies, to third-party developers. 

However, Apple is no doubt going to fight to keep some of its secrets close to the vest. For example, Gurman reports that Apple is still not open to any integration plans with iMessage, despite Google having pushed for a common messaging protocol for years.

Details of the forthcoming changes are not yet certain, but it does look like big changes are coming to Apple’s smartphone ecosystem in the near future. At the same time, American lawmakers are considering adopting a similar bill dubbed the Open App Markets Act.

[via Engadget and 9to5Mac, cover image via Wachiwit | Dreamstime.com]