Apple Set to Introduce New Charges and Restrictions for External Downloads Amidst Regulatory Changes

In a recent development reported by the Wall Street Journal, Apple is gearing up to implement additional fees and constraints for third-party software downloads outside of its App Store.

This announcement follows the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by the European Union, a regulatory move aimed at curbing the market dominance of major technology corporations and enhancing user freedom to switch between competing services. All major tech companies are mandated to adhere to the DMA by March 7.

According to the WSJ report, Apple's proposed changes will be specific to Europe, granting users the ability to download software onto their iPhones for the first time without relying on the App Store.

In a related move, Meta disclosed its plans on Monday to comply with the DMA, affirming that users will soon have more options in how they access and consume the company's services.