Meta unlikely to launch app store for European iPhone users: Here’s why

Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Apple was making it difficult for other companies to build rival app stores in the European Union (EU).

Apple insists that sideloading is a security threat. However, the EU’s upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced the tech giant to make changes to its app stores in the region, including new fees.

“I don’t think things are going to be any different for us with Apple. Because I think the way they’ve implemented it, I would be very surprised if any developers chose to go into an alternative app store that they have,” Zuckerberg said told analysts on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call late Thursday.

“They’ve made things so onerous, which I think goes against the intent of EU regulation, and I think it’s difficult for anyone, including ourselves, to really take seriously what they’re doing there,” he added.

Following Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, Microsoft also criticized Apple’s App Store changes in the EU, calling it “a move in the wrong direction” a step in the direction.”

The new app store changes, announced ahead of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) in March, will require developers using third-party app stores to pay €0.50 per app install per year after 1 million downloads.

Apple will also charge a 17% commission to developers who choose to use third-party payment systems.

(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is published by IANS, the associated news agency)