EU iPhone: Apple needs to remove barriers to third-party browsers and web apps

To comply with EU rules, Apple will once again have to make fundamental reforms: In the future, app providers will be able to develop and test their apps for EU users outside the EU, as Apple has now announced. The change comes with iOS and iPadOS 18.2, the operating systems that have been in beta testing since Wednesday evening. This makes it possible for companies and developers based in the United States or other non-EU countries to test their own browser engines, NFC wallets, and alternative app stores – this was not previously planned by Apple.

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There is currently no full third-party browser available for iOS

In the future, browser makers will be able to distribute their browser apps with both an in-house web engine and Apple’s WebKit. This saves the effort of taking a two-pronged approach to browser development – as has been the case until now. This means Apple had to overcome two of the biggest hurdles in developing a full-fledged third-party browser for iPhones and iPads. The changes were made following “feedback from the European Commission and developers”. apple notes,

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Apple has been allowing other browser engines in the EU since March due to new rules from the Digital Markets Act, but actual implementation was difficult due to requirements that have now been removed. This was sharply criticized by Mozilla and Google, both browser makers have already tested their own engines for Firefox and Chrome in iOS – but have not yet published them. All iOS and iPadOS browsers essentially rely on Apple’s WebKit engine, anything else was not allowed by Apple and is not currently allowed outside the EU.

Changes for web apps too

Also, Apple is opening the door to web apps that no longer rely on WebKit but on other browser engines: with a new interface As of iOS 18.2, third-party browsers can allow their users to add a website to the iPhone or iPad home screen and use it as a web app. Apple originally surprisingly announced it would no longer support independent web apps on iPhones in the EU – but backtracked again in early March.

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