App Store developers in the European Union can now submit their alternative app marketplaces to App Store Connect for approval. Apple announced the move earlier this week in anticipation of the release of iOS 17.4 next month, which will introduce sweeping changes to the iPhone’s app ecosystem.
According to Apple, the latest App Store Connect update allows developers to begin submitting their alternative app marketplaces, which will allow iPhone users in the EU to download apps from outside the App Store per the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Alternative app marketplaces can be created by any developer, with those marketplaces acting as dedicated iOS apps that can download and install any other app on an iPhone or iPad.
Developers can also submit their apps set to be distributed outside the App Store for the Notarization process, which Apple says is a basic process to ensure these apps don’t carry malware or viruses and that they function according to their description. Apps from outside the App Store and alternative app marketplaces themselves must undergo Notarization.
This update also provides support for features related to alternative app distribution in the European Union. You can now:
- Add alternative app marketplaces.
- Generate alternative distribution packages.
- Turn on notifications to automatically inform alternative app marketplaces about package updates.
- Submit iOS apps for Notarization.
App Store Connect release notes
Alongside the App Store changes, iOS 17.4 will also introduce several others to users in Europe. For example, iPhone users will be able to set up third-party browsers other than Safari as default, with developers allowed to implement custom non-WebKit web engines for their browser apps.
Apple also announced that it will allow banks and other financial institutions in Europe to access the iPhone’s NFC chip, allowing them to develop Apple Pay rivals. These changes not only apply to the EU but also to the European Economic Area (EEA).
All of these changes and more will go into effect in Europe once iOS 17.4 launches to the public sometime in early March before the DMA’s deadline on March 6 is officially in place.
