Apple's iPad App Store to Undergo Changes, Faces Antitrust Pressures

TapTechNews June 25th news, following the EU's requirement for Apple to make adjustments to the iPhone App Store (AppStore) in April this year, now the iPad App Store will also undergo the same changes. These changes include allowing app sideloading, using other app store payment methods, and supporting the use of browsers other than the WebKit kernel.

Apple announced this news while releasing iPadOS 18Beta2 on the developer website. Users can now use devices with iPadOS 18Beta2 and combine with Xcode 16Beta2 to get an early experience of the new App Store regulations that will soon apply to the EU region.

In addition, Apple has also updated the relevant clauses for the embedded browser engine in the app for the EU market. If developers have previously agreed to these terms, they need to re-sign the updated version.

To learn more details about the new EU App Store regulations, developers can refer to the relevant information on the Apple developer support page. These new regulations have currently been applied to the iOS system and will officially apply to the iPadOS system this autumn.

TapTechNews noted that to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has made many significant changes. However, the EU still believes that Apple's approach may not fully comply with the regulations and indicates there are'very serious' problems.

At the same time, Apple is also facing antitrust pressure from Japan and India. Japan has passed a new law requiring Apple to allow the introduction of third-party iOS app stores in the country. And India will soon become the next country to launch an antitrust battle against Apple, and Apple is actively lobbying to resist the introduction of this bill.