Under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple will allow iPad users to download apps from alternative app stores. iPad users will be able to download apps from platforms other than Apple’s own App Store when iPadOS 18 is released on September 16. The change was made necessary after the EU designated the iPadOS operating system as a “core platform service” in April. The same regulations also gave iPhone users access to third-party app stores earlier this year.
This new era for iPad users will expand with the support of third-party app stores such as Setapp Mobile, AltStore PAL and Epic Games Store, which are currently available for iPhone users. Fortnite This is an exciting development for fans, as the game can now be played on the iPad’s large screen. The Epic Games Store has already announced that it will add iPad support later in the year.
The impact of the EU’s Digital Markets Act
Apple has had to make several changes to its iPadOS operating system to comply with European Union regulations. These regulations allow users in the EU to download apps from platforms other than the Apple App Store, remove pre-installed iPad apps, and choose their default apps (such as a web browser). Also, just like iOS, iPadOS opens up to apps that use browser engines other than WebKit. However, so far we haven’t seen big tech companies like Google take advantage of this opportunity.
Apple initially argued that iPadOS did not reach enough users to fall under DMA regulations. Despite this, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager stated that the iPad is considered “an important gateway that many companies rely on to reach their customers.” This statement suggests that Apple was forced to comply with EU regulations despite its objections.