Apple
is
planning
to
make
further
changes
in
EU
countries
to
allow
some
developers
to
distribute
their
iOS
apps
directly
from
a
website.
The
new
web
distribution
feature
will
be
available
with
a
software
update
“later
this
spring,”
according
to
Apple,
providing
developers
with
a
key
new
way
to
distribute
iOS
apps
in
EU
markets
without
the
need
for
a
separate
app
store
—
as
long
as
they’re
willing
to
adhere
to
Apple’s
strict
rules.
While
Apple
is
opening
up
iOS
to
more
third-party
apps
here,
these
are
still
some
key
security
protections
around
how
apps
are
distributed
via
websites
—
namely,
you’ll
still
have
to
work
within
the
strict
Apple
app
development
ecosystem.
“Apps
offered
through
Web
Distribution
must
meet
Notarization
requirements
to
protect
platform
integrity,
like
all
iOS
apps,
and
can
only
be
installed
from
a
website
domain
that
the
developer
has
registered
in
App
Store
Connect,”
explains
Apple.
It’s
also
not
going
to
be
a
simple
process
to
install
these
apps
on
an
iPhone
in
the
EU.
“To
install
apps
from
a
developer’s
website,
users
will
first
need
to
approve
the
developer
to
install
apps
in
Settings
on
their
iPhone,”
says
Apple.
“When
installing
an
app,
a
system
sheet
will
display
information
that
developers
have
submitted
to
Apple
for
review,
like
the
app
name,
developer
name,
app
description,
screenshots,
and
system
age
rating.”
So
this
isn’t
going
to
be
an
open
and
free
way
for
developers
to
distribute
apps
over
the
web
to
iOS
devices
in
EU
markets.
“Apple
will
authorize
developers
after
meeting
specific
criteria
and
committing
to
ongoing
requirements
that
help
protect
users,”
says
Apple.
Developers
will
need
to
be
part
of
Apple’s
Developer
Program
and
be
registered
in
the
EU.
They’ll
also
need
to
agree
to
a
number
of
key
undertakings,
as
outlined
by
Apple:
That’s
a
lot
of
hoops
for
developers
to
jump
through,
and
it
appears
that
Apple
is
limiting
this
to
big
developers
only
thanks
to
the
1
million
installs
requirement.
Having
a
good
standing
developer
account
for
two
years
may
also
rule
Epic
Games
out
of
this
particular
distribution
method.
Epic
Games
is
still
hoping
to
launch
its
iOS
game
store
in
the
European
Union
soon,
though.
Apple
currently
allows
developers
to
distribute
their
apps
on
third-party
marketplaces
in
EU
countries,
but
if
those
apps
reach
more
than
1
million
annual
installs
per
year,
they’ll
need
to
pay
that
50
euro
cent
fee
for
every
additional
installation
and
update.
That
same
Core
Technology
Fee
process
is
part
of
web
distribution
of
iOS
apps,
too.
Only
nonprofit
organizations,
select
educational
institutions,
and
government
entities
in
the
EU
are
exempt
from
this
Core
Technology
Fee.
Still,
the
ability
for
developers
to
bring
their
apps
directly
to
iPhone
users
in
the
EU
without
having
to
go
through
the
App
Store
or
another
third-party
store
will
be
useful
for
some
willing
to
put
up
with
the
tight
restrictions.
There’s
some
obvious
friction
for
end
users,
but
with
some
third-party
stores
requiring
fees,
this
allows
iOS
developers
to
avoid
stores
altogether
if
they’re
willing
to
host
their
apps
directly
and
abide
by
Apple’s
rules
and
policies.
Apple
is
also
changing
its
strict
rules
around
how
developers
link
to
an
external
webpage
to
complete
purchases
for
digital
goods.
Developers
can
now
“choose
how
to
design
promotions,
discounts,
and
other
deals,”
according
to
Apple.
That
means
Apple’s
own
design
templates
are
optional,
instead
of
being
forced
on
developers.
Original author: Tom Warren
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