Apple authorizes application publishers to go through other shops than the App Store in the United States, a major change

Apple now authorizes publishers of application in the United States to pass, at no cost or commission, by another payment platform than the group’s store, the App Store, to comply with a court decision. The group has acted this major change by updating its applications regulations, published on its site.

On Wednesday, the Federal Judge of Oakland (California) Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had accused the company of the apple not to comply with its decision rendered more than three years ago and which forces it to open the iPhone to competing shops of its own.

In September 2021, the magistrate had estimated that Apple could no longer impose on the publishers of applications to go through the App Store as well as by its payment system, which levies an average of a commission of 30 %.

Services represent 28 % of Apple’s income

The exclusivity of the App Store has so far been a huge source of income for Apple. Service activity – which includes the application shop, musical streaming platforms (Apple Music) and video (Apple TV), as well as remote data storage (iCloud) – now represents 28 % of business income.

Under pressure from regulators and justice, Apple had already enabled certain publishers to go through another payment system, via an Internet page, but still led to 27 % commission.

However, in his decision rendered on Wednesday, M^me Gonzalez Rogers orders Apple to no longer take any commission from the transactions carried out outside of its application shop. The new version of the Apple regulation does not mention a commission, which means that the use of a third -party platform is now free of charge. Change only applies as the United States.

The judge also orders the company to no longer send a message to users who wish to go through a shop or third party application, except to simply point them out that they do not go through the App Store.

Apple explained, in a message published on its site, that the update of its regulations aimed to put itself “In accordance with a court decision in the United States”. The group said he was planning to appeal.