All this raises some interesting questions: why is this happening?
Should you care about sideloading?
And how will it impact the European market?
Were going to find out.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
Hold on, why is Apple allowing sideloading?
I put this question to Ivan Lam, senior analyst atCounterpoint Research.
The broad idea of the DMA is to hamper the power of these huge businesses.
The Cupertino-based company generates huge amounts of cash throughits marketplace monopoly.
Its a cash cow.
Its a way that Apple is making up forplateauing iPhone sales.
And the only reason the company is opening the App Store up is becausethe EU is forcing it to.
How will this impact Apple in Europe?
This isnt an easy thing to predict.
There are also big financial implications for the company.
Theres a comfort in the familiar, after all.
Itll be a roadbump, but not much more.
What about European consumers?
This is where things get more exciting.
Theres huge potential in sideloading for the regular person living in the EU.
This means that iPhones and iPads will have the ability to become more flexible and computer-like than ever before.
I chatted with another developer about this: Andrew Hill.
He works in Amsterdam for a design studio with international clients.
Hill agrees with Testut, saying he [doesnt] see any genuine downside for consumers.
There will be strict rules around sideloading.
One key reason for this is that Apple will do all it can to dissuade users from sideloading.
For example, they could be shown a selection of popups warning them of risky behaviour.
Furthermore, the iOS user base veers towards people who just want a rig that works.
A lot of people who really want to tweak their phones are already using Android.
When was the last time you heard someone talking about jailbreaks?
Users are unlikely to follow in big enough numbers to make that approach worthwhile.
What will make sense though is smaller companies offering their services on as many sideloaded app stores as possible.
With Apple taking30% of subscription revenue, lowering that commission elsewhere could be crucial.
Bavosa points towards the increased risk and proliferation of malware, Trojans, and fake apps sideloading could bring.
In other words, weak user security could open up new attack vectors for people looking to exploit companies.
Sideloading giveth, and sideloading taketh away.
Final thoughts: Whats next?
To put that another way: Apple will do all it can to keep making money.
Saying this, its good to take a step back and actually enjoy whats happening.
The EU forcing Apple to adhere to the DMA legislation is a brilliant thing.
Sideloading app stores will give us more control over our devices and who we pay money to.
Even if we dont want to use this capability, it feels great that we can.
Long live the DMA, long live consumer choice.
