UK Regulators Push for Major App Store Overhauls at Apple and Google

Potential Regulatory Shakeup for Mobile Ecosystems

Competition regulators in the United Kingdom are reportedly preparing to mandate significant changes to how Apple and Google operate their respective app stores, according to recent regulatory developments. The potential reforms could fundamentally alter the mobile application landscape that has existed for over a decade.

Potential Regulatory Shakeup for Mobile Ecosystems
Proposed Changes to Apple’s iOS Ecosystem
Android Modifications Under Consideration
Industry Reactions and Potential Impacts
Consumer and Developer Perspectives

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated both companies as having “strategic market status,” sources indicate, following a similar October decision targeting Google’s search division. This designation gives regulators broader authority to impose operational changes when they determine competition is being stifled.

Proposed Changes to Apple’s iOS Ecosystem

Analysts suggest the most dramatic shifts would affect Apple’s historically closed ecosystem. The iPhone maker may be required to allow alternative app stores on its devices for the first time since the App Store’s inception. Additionally, reports indicate Apple might need to permit direct downloads from developer websites, bypassing its official marketplace entirely.

Such changes would represent a fundamental departure from Apple’s longstanding “walled garden” approach to iOS security and user experience. The company has consistently argued that its controlled environment provides superior privacy and security protections compared to more open systems.

Android Modifications Under Consideration

While Android already permits alternative app stores and direct downloads, regulators are reportedly seeking improvements to the user experience. The roadmap published by the CMA in July suggests Google may need to streamline how users download apps directly from websites and “remove user frictions” when using third-party app stores., according to according to reports

One potential requirement would involve listing alternative app stores directly within the Google Play Store, according to the regulatory documents. Google maintains that Android’s open-source nature already fosters competition, with company representatives noting that “the majority of Android users” utilize alternative app stores or direct downloads from developer websites.

Industry Reactions and Potential Impacts

Apple has reportedly warned that adopting what it characterizes as “EU-style rules” could result in UK users experiencing delayed access to new features, similar to what has occurred in European markets. The company specifically cited the unavailability of certain Apple Intelligence features in the EU that have launched elsewhere, which it attributes to regulatory constraints.

In a statement, Apple emphasized that it “faces fierce competition in every market where we operate, and we work tirelessly to create the best products, services and user experience.” The company expressed concern that proposed regulations would “undermine that, leaving users with weaker privacy and security, delayed access to new features, and a fragmented, less seamless experience.”

Consumer and Developer Perspectives

Consumer advocacy group Which? has welcomed the potential reforms, suggesting that similar measures in other jurisdictions have already demonstrated benefits. “Their dominance is now causing real harm by restricting choice for consumers and competition for businesses,” said Rocio Concha, the organization’s head of policy and advocacy.

Industry analysts note that Android’s more open ecosystem has resulted in greater device diversity, with approximately 24,000 Android phone models from 1,300 manufacturers worldwide competing with Apple’s iOS devices in the UK market. This competition, Google argues, has created a wider selection of applications available to Android users compared to those restricted to Apple’s ecosystem.

The exact timeline for potential implementation remains uncertain, as regulators continue their assessment of both companies’ market positions. The CMA has not specified which specific measures it will ultimately require, but the published roadmap provides clear indication of the direction regulators are considering.