iPhone users in some countries now have the ability to download apps out of the App Store. That’s right, Apple has finally caved into pressure from the EU regulators, opening iOS to third-party websites, and allowing its users to download apps from there. The iOS 17.5 beta 2 version is the clearest sign of things to come for iPhone users but only if you reside in any of the EU countries.
Apple seems to have made it quite clear that it does not need to open access to iOS for third-party apps and developers in all of its markets, so the iOS 17.5 beta 2 version will look and run differently in the non-EU countries.
The ability to download apps from websites on iPhones will be interesting for developers like Epic Games that has stayed away from the App Store for users, because it doesn’t like Apple’s commissions on apps hosted on the platform. The feature is called Web Distribution which gives developers the chance to connect the iPhone users directly through their websites.
iPhone Apps Download From Websites: How It Works
Apple is not going to give the developers an easy route to let them connect the iPhone users with their websites. The company has set up its guidelines and terms that developers signing up for the Web Distribution have to follow.
They have to pay a core technology fee of EUR .50 (Rs 44.5 approx) for every app install that goes past one mission in 12 months. Apple also has set up an App Store Connect, which will consist of websites that the company feels are safe to allow downloading of apps for iPhone users.
Apple has always liked the control it has on iOS, macOS, watchOS and the whole ecosystem. The EU ruling has clearly brought it out of its comfort zone but the company has found other ways to retain its authority which is unlikely to go down well with the developers and the regulators will be keeping a close eye on how these changes pan out in the next few months.
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