Apple’s hold on the App Store is loosening, at least in Europe
BRUSSELS—Apple has long kept a tight grip on its iPhone ecosystem. In Europe, its hold is starting to weaken. “Fortnite" maker Epic Games on Friday said it is launching an alternative app store for iPhone users in Europe.
Spotify this week began directing Europeans on its iOS music-streaming app to the company’s website to sign up for subscriptions, something it wasn’t previously permitted to do. Apple separately said Wednesday that it plans to make it possible for developers in the U.S. and several other countries to offer secure contactless payments through their own apps on iPhones.
Apple had previously committed to opening contactless payment technology in Europe to settle a European Union antitrust case. The changes are opening up Apple’s devices to outside developers in new ways, allowing third parties to bypass elements of its control and, in some cases, its fees. They show how a wave of new regulations, antitrust enforcement and rulings, many in Europe, are chipping away at Apple’s “walled garden" of devices and software.
Apple has long argued that its approach supports users’ privacy and security. It has also become a lucrative part of the company’s business model. Apple’s services unit, which includes the App Store, generated $85.2 billion in sales during the 2023 fiscal year, accounting for about 22% of overall revenue.
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