Apple didn’t rush to adopt sideloading, but it launched support for sideloading in the latest iOS 17.5 beta, allowing developers to prepare for sideloading within the EU.
This is the first major improvement Apple has made to its original plan to operate in line with Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Web distribution allows a certified developer to distribute her iOS app to users within the European Union (EU) directly from her website owned by the developer.
Apple announced its initial approach to DMA compliance in March, spoke about its plans in Europe a short time later, and is currently working on it after receiving a lot of feedback. Europe has also launched an investigation into DMA compliance, suggesting Apple’s adjustments reflect the company’s ongoing dialogue with EU regulators.
The basic idea is that developers can choose to offer their own apps to customers through a website, but developers must agree to various checks, including customer support, technical support, tax, etc. must also be processed. In some cases, fees may apply. However, users will want to know how this change will affect them.
What is user experience?
Customers have become accustomed to the App Store, and many may want to continue using it. However, as developers move away from the App Store, some important apps may only be available through independent portals, including the developer’s website. We’ll have to wait and see how much this complicates the user experience and compromises the integrity of the platform.
But when it comes to web delivery, you can at least understand how the system works by considering the customer journey Apple has described. The journey has been far from the harrowing experience some of the company’s vocal critics say. In my opinion, it’s designed to inform and protect customers.
According to Apple, when a customer chooses to download an iOS app from a developer’s website:
- The first time you choose to download an app from a new developer, you’ll be taken through a series of prompt screens that explain the importance of your decision.
- Then, authenticate with Face ID and agree to give the developer permission to install the app on your device.
- Installing the app itself is a three-step process.
- Also, if you want to download other apps from that developer’s website, you can proceed directly to the last three steps since the permission has already been provided.
Apple’s app notarization process actually benefits all parties in this regard. To do this, we require developers to provide clear information and screenshots to explain the app’s functionality and how it works. This means customers need to know what they’re installing, and notarization is reasonably secure because the app has undergone at least some degree of security vetting, if not as much as the App Store. This means that it can be determined that
Who can distribute apps on the web?
To distribute an app via a website, developers must be resident or registered in the EU, or have established a subsidiary in the EU. Also, for more than two consecutive years he has been a member of the Apple Developer Program, and in the past 12 months he has had an app with over 1 million annual installs on his iOS for the first time in the EU. must be.
If eligible, developers must agree to Apple’s new terms and conditions. This includes, among other things, being responsible for customer support and refunds, and agreeing to an Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps within the EU.
What about small print?
With all this in place, developers need to:
- We only offer apps from developer accounts.
- Respond in a timely manner to questions from Apple regarding decentralized apps, especially those that may involve fraud, malware, or otherwise impact the safety and security of our users and platform.
- Agree to submit your app to Apple’s notarization process, which is designed to protect your company’s platform and customers.
- Publish transparent data collection policies and give users control over how their data is collected and used.
- Comply with applicable laws such as GDPR, taxes and government inquiries.
What support does Apple provide?
Once a qualified developer gets started in this way, Apple provides the following resources to enable web distribution of apps:
- Access to a set of APIs built by Apple to enable web delivery, integration with system features, and app backup and restore.
- Developers can only sell apps through the App Store Connect registration site.
- You must also agree to pay Apple a core technology fee of €0.50 for each first annual install of your app if the number of installs exceeds 1 million within 12 months. (Most developers don’t migrate apps at that scale.)
- Free waiver for EU-based nonprofits, educational institutions, or government agencies that have been approved for a fee waiver.
Once set up, developers can download signed binary assets and host them for sale and distribution through their own websites.
What else has changed?
Changes to Apple’s original proposal include:
- Web distribution of iOS apps.
- Rules have been relaxed, and developers at large companies don’t have to deal with as much bureaucracy.
- A feature that allows developers who want to build their own app marketplace to qualify without providing standby credentials.
- Developers can switch to Apple’s traditional App Store business model once and for all. This is designed to protect developers from unexpected business changes, such as if the number of downloads for their app increases faster than expected.
Anything else new?
Apple has committed to a variety of additional changes to make its App Store business more DMA compliant. The company specifically offers solutions that allow you to remove Safari and use other browsers, making it easier to migrate to other smartphone platforms.
Please follow us mastodonor join us Appleholic Bar & Grill and apple discussion MeWe group.
