Key Points:
- Apple and Google agreed to make app store practices fairer.
- The UK regulator designated both firms as having “strategic market status.”
- New rules require clear and objective app review processes.
- Developers will gain access to more iOS features for rival apps.
Apple and Google struck a deal with Britain’s antitrust regulator on Tuesday to change how they run their mobile app stores. The tech giants promised to treat app developers more fairly and make their review processes completely transparent. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) called this a crucial first step under its new, tougher regulatory regime.
This move follows a major decision from last October. The CMA officially designated both Apple and Google as having “strategic market status” in the smartphone world. This specific legal title gives the watchdog the power to force changes to boost competition. Without this label, the regulator had less authority to tell these massive companies how to operate their platforms.
The reality is that nearly every smartphone in Britain runs on either Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android. Because these two companies own the operating systems, they hold immense power over the app stores and web browsers that millions of people use daily. The regulator argued that this dominance allowed them to control which services succeed and which fail, often stifling innovation in the process.
Under the new commitments, both companies must review apps using clear, objective standards. They cannot play favorites or keep developers in the dark about why they reject an app. Furthermore, developers will finally get access to more technical features inside Apple’s iOS. This change allows creators to build better rival products for tools like digital wallets or live translation apps, which Apple previously kept close to its chest.
Apple defended its business model in a statement. The company claimed it faces “fierce competition” in every market. A spokesperson noted that these new commitments allow Apple to protect user privacy and security while still helping developers grow.
Google took a diplomatic approach as well. The company stated that it believes its current practices are already fair and transparent. However, Google said it welcomed the opportunity to resolve the CMA’s concerns collaboratively. This agreement signals a shift in how governments are handling Big Tech, moving from simple fines to forcing actual operational changes.
