Apple Planning To Allow Sideloading And Alternative App Stores On iPhone In Europe
Apple does not allow users to download applications on iPhones. However, the company plans to bring major changes to the App Store on iPhone. According to the latest, Apple’s software engineers are working on a project that will allow the iPhone to “allow alternative app stores”. The change is expected to come next year with the release of iOS 17. Scroll down to read more details on the subject.
Apple is working internally to allow sideloading and alternative App Stores on iPhone
Bloomberg’s latest report claims that Apple will allow users to download apps on the iPhone and iPad for the first time. The company is driving the change by devoting a “significant amount of resources to the company-wide effort.” People familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg described the changes as a “major push to open up key elements of Apple’s platform”.
The report goes on to explain how users will be able to download third-party apps on the iPhone and iPad outside of the App Store. Although the changes are expected with the release of iOS 17, some employees are not happy with sideloading apps on iPhone and consider Apple’s decision a “distraction from typical day-to-day development of future features.”
Apple devotes a significant amount of resources to the enterprise effort. This was not a popular initiative within Apple, as the company spent years denying the need for “sideloading” – the process of installing software without using the official App Store. In lobbying against the new European laws, Apple argued that sideloading could put unsafe apps on consumers’ devices and undermine privacy.
Some engineers working on the plan also see it as a distraction from the typical day-to-day development of future features, according to the people. The company aims to have the changes ready as part of an update to next year’s iOS 17, which will be compliant with the requirements.
The effort is led by Apple’s vice president of software engineering, Andres Wendker, who reports directly to Craig Federighi. Additionally, Apple’s services team is also part of the project and Apple’s Jeff Robbins reports to Eddy Cue in this regard. The company is also considering the idea of ”establishing certain security requirements even if the software is distributed outside of its store.” The third-party or sideloaded apps will have to be verified by Apple first and the company will charge a fee for developers.
At this stage, it is not yet clear whether the company plans to continue with its plans. From now on, take the news with a grain of salt. That’s all there is, folks. We’ll keep you posted on the latest, so be sure to stay tuned. Also share your views with us in the comments.
