EU begins regulation of iPads. Apple has to modify the iPadOS system, it has exactly half a year to do it – MobilMania.cz

The EU has already shed light in detail on the iPhone, where the slow “opening” of the platform with the help of regulations is beginning. It started with alternative stores, alternative browsers and alternative payment systems were added. And even if in the eyes of the EU, some of Apple’s changes are rather lagging behind the ideal form (the EU is investigating Apple on several fronts), at least on the old continent, iPhone users have, or at least will have, more freedom in using their devices. But it doesn’t end there, because the EU has also included iPads as regulated devices under the DMA rules, or tablets with iPadOS.

In the regulation according to the DMA rules, the EU has also recently shed light on Apple. The American giant has half a year to get all the necessary news into the devices in the hands of users

The largest portion of news related to EU regulation arrived in iPhones together with iOS 17.4. However, nothing like that happened in the case of iPadOS 17.4. According to Bloomberg, the EU is now demanding that iPads comply with DMA rules, giving Apple half a year to make any necessary changes. It is not yet clear exactly what changes Apple will make in European iPads, but the logical step is to switch functions from the iOS system to tablet form. Due to the six-month time interval, we do not yet know whether the changes will appear in the future version of iPadOS 17.x, or only in iPadOS 18.

iPadOS is a bit of a special case

According to Margrete Vestager, the European Commissioner for Economic Competition, this happened despite the fact that the iPad does not meet the basic requirements for a so-called “gatekeeper”. Indeed, the investigation showed that iPadOS is an important platform for many companies to reach their customers. And, even if he doesn’t meet the limits, he has a lot of potential to grow. Also because, according to the EU, Apple has a solution to “imprison” ordinary or corporate users in the iPadOS platform. And it will ensure its inclusion in regulation “preserving fairness and competition”.

So what will be the biggest changes? On iPads, users will be able to download apps outside of the App Store, both from alternative stores and those downloaded from the Internet. They will also be able to uninstall pre-installed apps. iPads will continue to be able to use alternative web browsers and alternative payment methods, but this is more of a regulation aimed at app developers.

This is practically the same regulation as for iPhones, but it is against Apple’s grain in some cases. E.g. as part of the lawsuit, Apple is seeking its “truth” through legal means in Luxembourg. The first hearings will take place this year, and the outcome of the trial could affect the current form of regulation of mobile devices in the EU.

Source Europa, Europa [2] via Bloomberg