March is presented as the most meaningful month of the year in the technological field due to the entry into force of the new DMA. This initiative, called the European Digital Markets Code, aims to promote free competition and encourages giants such as Apple, Google and Meta to make strategic moves. On the Apple side, starting from iOS 17.4, side loading The increase in applications to the App Store from alternative stores is an important move in the system, which has been completely closed for years.

This is not the only news about the installation of applications. It will be possible during next spring install applications directly from the developers’ website. A significant jump from alternative stores, if possible. Developers will be able to upload files directly to websites and users will be able to install them on their iPhones. These aren’t the only changes coming.

Three changes coming to apps on iOS

Apple announced three major changes to its DMA compliance plan. This is all about the new freedoms developers will have when distributing their applications and payment methods.

• Developer-Specific Applications: The first change announced by Apple, marketplaces Third parties may only offer a catalog of their own applications. This opens the door for iOS to host stores where major developers distribute only their own games, without other games and apps.
• More freedom for promotional pricing: Apple explains that developers can choose how to design their promotions within the app. There will be three ways to pay: from Apple Pay in the App Store, from the developer’s own interface in the app, and from the developer’s website.
• Installing applications from the web: The most important innovation so far. Not only can we install applications from alternative marketplaces, we can also install applications from the developer’s website.

There will be apps from the web, but forget “Spotify Premium APK”

One might think that the season is open for apps to watch free football matches and get access to Spotify premium without spending a penny. Mistake. Apple seems to have taken every step well when it comes to allowing both users to upload files from websites and developers to install their apps.

Eligibility criteria. As with third-party marketplaces, you’ll need to meet Apple’s eligibility requirements. Web-installed apps will not need a letter of credit, but you will need to have an account that has been in existence for two years and has an established app business in the EU with over 1 million initial installs annually.

In other words, any developer cannot upload applications to their own website. In order to access alternative application markets, it will be necessary to comply with the standards set by Apple.

The file cannot be downloaded if the website is not registered. The most important step falls on the iPhone itself, because if the application is not secure and its installation is allowed, the problem falls on Apple.

Apps hosted on developer websites must have their domain registered with App Store Connect. In other words, if an unregistered website tries to host a malicious file, iPhone won’t install it. Uploads will only be made for apps from registered domains and apps that meet Apple’s notarization criteria.

Through App Store Connect, developers will be able to download signed files and host them on their websites. When uploading the file, it will be the user himself from the iPhone. you should let to install applications. Although there is no visual on how this feature will work, Apple states that we can authorize the installation from the iPhone settings.

After installing the app, iOS will show us an information screen showing us the name of the app, the developer name, the app description, the age rating and all the data that the developer has sent to Apple for review. This change will take effect in the springThe date when we may start to see the first applications hosted on web pages.

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