Although Apple did not mention during WWDC 2023 whether iOS 17 would allow users to install third-party software by sideloading, and the iOS 17 beta version currently available for developer testing does not have a similar feature, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, did mention it.Subsequent statementsIn a report published on Monday, Apple revealed that it may eventually compromise with EU regulators.
Craig Federighi did not explicitly state whether iOS 17 will definitely have the function of sideloading third-party software, but under the EU Digital Market Directive, if Apple wants to continue selling iPhone products in the EU market, it will have to compromise on this.
Before this, Apple has always opposed the use of third-party apps through sideloading because it may cause greater privacy and usage safety issues. It also emphasizes the strict App Store listing review policy to ensure that the apps downloaded by users are safe and worry-free.
Apple didn't mention app sideloading at #WDC23, except for when @gruber explicitly asked Craig Federighi about it during The Talk Show.
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#iOS17 #iOS # Apple pic.twitter.com/Nr9qBHlaob— Mysk 🇨🇦🇩🇪 (@mysk_co) June 13, 2023
But even though Apple emphasizes that allowing side-loading installation will create greater security risks, it is obviously a change that must be made under EU regulations. Otherwise, it will face a fine of 20% of its global revenue from the EU. However, if users are allowed to install and use third-party apps through side-loading, Apple may also lose a lot of platform service fees or service revenue sharing. Therefore, Apple may still come up with other ways to ensure profitability.
In previous views, the market believed that Apple might allow the use of third-party applications through side loading and other methods in iOS 17, or obtain application services through third-party software markets, but it was not sure whether such practices would be allowed only in the European Union, or whether the same policy would be implemented globally, or even that developers would have to pay additional fees to "unlock" this usage mode.
From Apple's perspective, it will probably try to avoid discussing this topic at this stage. There may not even be a clear answer before the official version of iOS 17 is released this fall. However, under the pressure of the new EU law, it is very likely that Apple will have to make compromises.
