The closed ecosystem of Apple, which imposes strict and unvariable rules of the game within itself, has long attracted the attention of regulators in many countries, including the UK, South Korea, Japan and others. Today, the list includes the United States: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched an investigation into competition in mobile app ecosystems. During it, iOS will be subjected to a thorough analysis, with a particular focus on the “unique barriers” that prevent users and developers from taking advantage of web applications, applications from alternative app stores, and applications downloaded from third-party resources.

The executive order of President Biden, which became the starting point for launching the investigation, expressed concern about the position of the dominant Internet platforms (Apple, Google, Amazon), which use their power to reject objectionable market participants, extract monopoly profits and collect sensitive personal data used as an advantage. At the same time, too many small businesses depend on these platforms and their app stores and have to adapt to the rules they impose to survive.

The purpose of the investigation is to create recommendations for improving the competitive environment, reducing entry barriers and maximizing benefits for users: “The app economy is becoming the main way Americans interact with their environment. As such, it is critical that this market be robust, open, innovative and secure – and without barriers to entry and growth.” In other words, there is a possibility of relaxation in the tough policy of Apple (and other tech giants) in relation to both software developers and users on the horizon. And maybe one day iOS will even get the ability to install apps from third-party sources.

© Vladimir Kovalev. mobile phone

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