A future for iPhone app stores
I think it will, unfortunately, be a lot less interesting than people are hoping for.<p>1. It will almost certainly be EU-exclusive. Maybe tied to an EU SIM card.<p>2. It will likely only be on iOS, as that&#x27;s the only &quot;gatekeeper&quot; operating system that the EU has recognized Apple as having. Apple Watch? iPads? Far less likely to support sideloading.<p>3. I wouldn&#x27;t be shocked if sideloading is restricted to Apple-approved 3rd-party App Stores to minimize security risks (no direct installation of an IPA like you would an APK). Which would, arguably, still be compliant.<p>4. In almost all legal cases including in the US, nobody has recognized Apple&#x27;s 30% cut as being illegal. Another example is Denmark&#x27;s dating apps rule, where you can opt-out of using Apple&#x27;s in-app purchases framework, but Apple will demand a 26% commission through legal contract (basically, you get 4% off for using your own credit card provider). It is <i>possible</i> that apps installed through sideloading will still be legally obligated to give Apple that cut, which would be... very pointless for anything other than emulators and apps that Apple wouldn&#x27;t normally allow.<p>5. Apple appears to have successfully argued that iMessage usage, within the EU, is too low to be considered a &quot;gatekeeper,&quot; and the EU appears to be in agreement. No interoperability is coming there.