Apple Announces Web Distribution Feature to Enable Direct s From Developer Websites in the EU 6x5d56 Technology News

Apple will let authorised developers offer app s directly from their website, without the need for a third party app store in the EU. 1f2f2i

Written by David Delima | Updated: 13 March 2024 11:47 IST

Apple Announces Web Distribution Feature to Enable Direct s From Developer Websites in the EU

Photo Credit: Unsplash/ James Yarema 376d4z

iOS 17.4 added for third-party app marketplaces

Highlights

Apple will soon allow direct app s via Web Distribution
These apps can be directly ed from an authorised website
Web Distribution apps will be charged after 1 million annual instals

ment

Apple on Tuesday announced that it was adding for Web Distribution will roll out in the coming weeks, allowing developers to distribute apps directly from their websites, without the need for installing third party app stores. These apps can also system integration along with backup and restore functionality. The iPhone maker also revealed that it was making changes to its policies related to for alternative app stores in the EU, making it easier for developers to exclusively offer their own apps via a dedicated app marketplace.

According to iOS application programming interfaces (APIs) in order to backup and restore functions, system integration, and app distribution via the web — without a third-party app store.

Developers who want to distribute their apps directly from their websites will need to be enrolled as an organisation (or have a subsidiary legal entity) that is "incorporated, domiciled, and or ed in the EU," according to Apple's page for Web Distribution. They will also need to be part of the Apple Developer Program for at least two consecutive years, while one of their apps will need to have had over one million annual app s in the EU.

Apple is Testing an AI-Powered Ad Performance Tool: Report

Apple has also put some restrictions in place, including requiring apps to be notarised, and asking developers to agree to only distribute apps from their developer . Developers will also need to ensure that they respond to the company's communications, publish data collection policies and offer privacy controls. They will also need to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) while complying with government requests to take down apps.

Developers who opt for web distribution will also have to pay Apple a Core Technology Fee (CTF) of EUR 0.50 (roughly Rs. 45) for every annual app install over one million, according to the company. Accredited educational institutions, government entities and non-profit organisations will be exempted from the annual Apple Developer Program hip fee and the CTF.

Apple also announced that developers who want to offer alternative app marketplaces in the EU will finally be able limit these stores to their own apps — a departure from the company's original policy that stated that other developers should also be allowed to offer their apps on third party app stores. This means that developers can now offer dedicated app stores with their own applications in the EU.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Digital Markets Act

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be ed via email at [email protected], on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More

Explained: Hashed Timelock Contracts in Blockchain Applications