Apple warns that alternative app stores will finally be released from iOS 17.4 in compliance with EU regulations
Apple released iOS 17.4 on March 5, 2024. iOS 17.4 introduced support for third-party alternative app stores to comply with European Union (EU) digital market laws, but Apple has explained that if you move outside the EU, you will no longer be able to use any alternative app stores. I am.
About alternative app marketplaces in the European Union – Apple Support (UK)
iOS 17.4 alternative iPhone app stores will stop working if you travel outside the EU - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/05/ios-17-4-app-stores-stop-working-travel/
Parents can block 'unsafe' apps from outside of the App Store from being installed, here's how - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/05/block-iphone-alternative-app-store-eu/
The Digital Markets Act is an EU law that was issued in November 2022 and came into effect in May 2023 with the aim of strictly regulating major IT companies such as Apple, Google, and Meta. The Digital Markets Act defines companies that provide core platform services as 'gatekeepers,' including Google's parent company Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, ByteDance, Meta, Microsoft, and Samsung. .
Seven major technology companies including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft admit to being ``gatekeepers'' under EU digital market law - GIGAZINE
In response, Apple has added new rules to the App Store, the official app store for iOS, allowing app developers to distribute their apps on alternative third-party app stores and use third-party payment services. I admitted that.
Apple allows sideloading and payments outside the App Store in the EU in response to the Digital Markets Act, but strict conditions and new fees will be added - GIGAZINE
According to Apple, to be eligible to use an alternative app store, a user's Apple ID must be in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, or Must be set to one of Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, or Sweden.
Additionally, you must be physically located within the European Union and your device's geolocation must be within one of the countries listed above. In that case, you can install an alternative app store via your browser and download apps to your iPhone from outside the App Store.
However, if the location of the iPhone changes, the entitlement given to the user may be lost. Apple says, ``While there is a grace period for short-term trips, long-term stays outside the EU will result in the revocation of access to alternative app stores.'' It is not specified how long this 'long term' is.
Once you lose your entitlement, you won't be able to install alternative app stores, and apps downloaded from alternative app stores won't be able to be updated automatically. Therefore, you will need to either return to the EU or delete the app and install the same app from the App Store.
Apple also warns that apps downloaded from outside the App Store may contain hate speech, extreme violence, encouragement of illegal drug consumption, and pornographic content. That's why Apple announced that iOS parental controls will now allow parents to choose whether or not they can install alternative app stores.
If you try to install an alternative app store by clicking on a link on the web, the following warning message will be displayed. If you do not allow the installation of an alternative app store through parental controls, you will not be able to proceed beyond this warning.
In addition, it is also possible to set age restrictions for alternative app stores from parental controls.
Additionally, to qualify as an alternative app store developer, request a standby letter of credit of at least 1 million euros (approximately 160 million yen) from a financial institution with an A-class rating or higher, and submit this to Apple. It was mandatory to do so. However, Apple has newly announced that ``members who have signed up for the Apple Developer Program for more than two years and have maintained a good standing'' and ``members who have been in good standing with the Apple Developer Program for more than two years'' and ``who have over 1 million annual installs of iOS in the EU in 2023.'' They announced that they would be eligible if they met the condition of 'owning the app,' and that they had also added a condition to exempt them from the standby letter of credit.
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