Apple Updates App Store Connect, TestFlight Ahead of Upcoming Support for Third-Party App Marketplaces in the EU

Apple has been making preparations to open the gates of iOS to permit third-party app marketplaces and apps on its platform within the European Union (EU). It lately rolled out the iOS 17.4 betas variations of the upcoming replace that added help for different marketplaces. Now, the iPhone maker has launched updates for App Retailer Join and TestFlight apps to onboard these builders. It has additionally requested the choice marketplaces to make submissions for the notarisation course of for the third-party apps that might be made accessible on iOS.

Saying the adjustments to the 2 apps on its developer web site, Apple mentioned that builders within the EU can now add their marketplaces to the App Retailer Join app that lets builders monitor their app’s gross sales and downloads, reply to App Retailer opinions, get notifications for brand new opinions, and extra. Equally, adjustments have been made to the TestFlight app, which lets builders beta-test new options earlier than rolling it out.

However earlier than different marketplaces might be added to the iOS ecosystem, the builders should conform to Apple’s enterprise phrases and full the notarisation course of. Based on a report by MacRumors, enterprise phrases embrace a core know-how price that Apple is charging each {the marketplace} and the app by the variety of installs. Third-party marketplaces should pay EUR 0.50 (roughly Rs. 45) per instal, and apps should pay the identical quantity after finishing a million instals.

The notarisation course of will even be necessary for third-party marketplaces and apps as Apple will decide whether or not an app is malicious or not. Whereas a course of like that’s wanted to make sure person security from scammers and hackers, some have raised considerations about whether or not Apple will use this to disqualify competing apps and marketplaces.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Video games, is amongst those that voiced their displeasure when Apple first introduced the method. In a post on X (previously generally known as Twitter), he referred to as the fee by instals a “junk price”. On the notarisation course of, he mentioned, “Epic has all the time supported the notion of Apple notarisation and malware scanning for apps, however we strongly reject Apple’s twisting this course of to undermine competitors and proceed imposing Apple taxes on transactions they are not concerned in.”