iPad and iPhone users in the European Union can now download apps from other app stores, but I have mixed feelings. Part of me is excited about breaking the monopoly. The other part of me, the part that loves convenience, can’t help but think about how multiple app stores complicate my life.
A single app store is becoming obsolete
Since the early iPhones were released, there’s been only one official way to get apps on Apple devices, and that’s through the App Store. Too bad you didn’t like it because that’s what it was. Switch to Android.
But things have changed a lot lately, and in the European Union (EU) you can now get apps through third-party alternatives like AltStore Pal, SetApp Mobile, and Epic Games Store.
The reason for this switch is a new law called the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA targets large technology companies, or so-called “gatekeepers,” and imposes strict requirements to prevent anti-competitive behavior. Apple is one such gatekeeper, with regulations forcing it to allow users to install third-party app stores.
In the United States (US), the App Store is still king, but its reign here may be coming to an end. We saw some glimpses of this in the earlier Epic v. Apple case, and now we see signs of it in the Department of Justice’s new lawsuit against Apple. It may only be a matter of time before the US takes a page from the EU’s strategy.
more competition is good
Objectively speaking, more app stores is a good thing. This means you don’t have to override Apple’s restrictive policies for JIT, emulators, etc. Instead, you can easily get around this issue by downloading the app or retro emulator you want from another app store.
In-app purchases may also become cheaper as the number of app stores increases. Apple currently charges a 30% fee on all in-app purchases, and this cost is passed on to you, the end user. Multiple app stores can increase competition, lower prices, and make in-app purchases cheaper.
Multiple app stores could end simplicity
But despite all the potential benefits of multiple app stores, I can’t help but worry that if they become a reality, they’ll complicate things needlessly. Sure, the App Store is a monopoly, but it’s also a convenient one-stop shop for all your apps. It’s simple and effective. That’s why I like it.
Introducing multiple app stores destroys this simplicity. If my concerns hold true, each store will have its own rules, and an app available in one store may not be available in another.
Then there’s the issue of exclusivity. Developers like Epic, who have their own app stores, can monopolize their apps and force you to download the store just to access those apps. And this is not just a hypothesis, it is already happening.
In the EU, Epic’s game Rocket Sideswipe has been removed from the App Store and is now only available through the Epic Game Store and Alt Pal Store. Considering Epic’s ongoing feud with Apple, this is likely just the beginning.
Looking for which app is in which store might be a bit of a pain for you, but imagine how frustrating it would be for someone who isn’t tech-savvy. Imagine trying to explain the process of installing a specialized app like Rocket Sideswipe on your phone. I get tired just thinking about it.
Using multiple app stores can worsen security
One of Apple’s main arguments against alternative app stores on iOS was that they would reduce security. Although I generally don’t agree with Apple’s restrictive policies, I have to admit that they have a point.
I can’t tell you how many times my family members with Android smartphones have accidentally downloaded malware, scam apps, and other junk from the internet. That’s why I prefer my family to use iPhones, even if there are family rules. Because then you won’t have to worry about your family falling into something like that.
However, when I start sideloading third-party app stores, that layer of protection goes away, and so does my peace of mind.
I really want to like the idea of a decentralized app store, but at the moment I don’t see how it can work without losing out somehow. Things might change if the big tech companies are willing to work together, but given the recent hostility between the two companies, don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.
