Apple is now allowing European iPhone users in Europe to select third-party web browsers as a default more easily thanks to iOS 17.4 and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It seems that the change is already helping third-party browsers gain market share across the continent, according to a new report by Reuters.
According to the report, various developers of third-party browsers on iOS reported a considerable jump in the number of active users following the release of the iOS 17.4 update. For example, Aloha Browser, a Cyprus-based browser launched in 2016, says that its active users based in the EU have increased by as much as 250% since March. Aloha now has 10 million active monthly users and has seen its market position jump from fourth to second since the DMA iOS 17.4 changes were implemented.
The increase in the number of users is also echoed by other smaller browser developers including Vivaldi, Ecosia, and Brave. More established choices like Opera and DuckDuckGo have also reported healthy growth, with Opera stating that it now has a new record figure of active users in Europe without disclosing exact numbers.
However, some browser developers still feel that Apple isn’t doing enough to promote browser competition on iOS. Vivaldi’s CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner has criticized how users can only select their browser once they open Safari on their iPhones, and that the selection screen doesn’t offer an apt description for each available browser choice. Firefox has further alleged that Apple has somehow slowed down the rollout of iOS 17.4 in Europe to prevent users from switching away from Safari to third-party browsers.
The changes brought forward by the DMA and iOS 17.4 seem to have so far benefitted developers, but that has not stopped the European Commission from launching several investigations into Apple over incomplete DMA compliance. Beyond the ability to set third-party browsers as default, EU iPhone users can now install apps via alternative marketplaces without the need for the App Store. iOS 17.5 will also allow users to download apps directly from the web with direct links.
