App Store in Europe will need to follow a different set of rules, because of which, Apple has decided that it needs a major rejig of its strategy in the region, one that is different for other markets. Apple is going to bring sideloading of apps for iPhone users in the European Union (EU) region, but the new changes are not going to be applicable for those on iOS and are in other countries.
Tat’s right, Apple is reportedly going to have two versions of the App Stores, one for the EU region and the other catering to all markets outside of the EU. The new details suggest Apple doesn’t feel the need to comply with the new policy of sideloading on iPhones for all the countries, especially those where these rules don’t apply. Sideloading has been a big issue for Apple and even today the company doesn’t really want to support the feature for iPhone users.
Android users are able to sideload because of its open-source nature, something that Apple didn’t want iOS to be known for over the years but the changing market dynamics and regulatory pressure is forcing the iPhone maker to comply and give users the option to install apps from other app stores.
Having said that, dividing the App Store for different conditions does make a lot of sense, albeit in the short term. The company is expecting other countries to have EU-like rules passed in the near future, which could force it to make sideloading on iOS mainstream.
We have already seen one major change with iPhones because of the EU ruling, in the form of the iPhone 15 series launching with a USB C port for all markets. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently met with EU regulators in the US where these terms were laid out up front, and the company is now expected to accept the terms in the next month or so when the rules come into effect.
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