Apple And Google Are Increasingly Hazardous, Asked To Be Fair In Third Party Applications

Image Credit: Illustration of Photo App Store / dock. Apple

JAKARTA - The app industry currently only has two platforms, Google's Apple App Store and Play Store. However, US President Joe Biden claims the current mobile app store model is dangerous for consumers and developers.

In a recent report by the National Information and Telecommunications Administration (NTIA), the president's top adviser to the policy in the field, said mobile app consumers usually cannot download apps outside of Apple and Google's digital stores.

In addition, developers who have to use the store to sell their apps acknowledge the many rules set by the two tech giants.

NTIA also recommends that consumers be allowed to download and use alternative mobile app stores on their devices, along with the ability to hide or remove pre-installed apps and the right to select their own default apps.

Furthermore, NTIA also asks developers not to be limited to using Apple and Google's own in-app payment systems. This is a major problem with Epic Games when trying to launch its own in-app payment system for the game Fortnite a few years ago.

In 2021, the court ruled that Apple should allow external payment methods for its mobile devices. So far, that hasn't happened, as Apple appeals the decision.

Apple and Google must also allow mobile devices to receive features such as sideloading, alternative app stores, and web apps. Android devices have technically allowed sideloading, but according to NTIA, Google is still making the process too complicated.

However, Apple's strict hardware and software policies don't allow iPhone or iPad owners to sideload apps or use different app stores.

Therefore, NTIA says Apple and Google are not allowed to give any preference to their own mobile apps in search results or discriminate against other apps similar to theirs.

NTIA also stated that several app store policies put third-party developers in an unfavorable position compared to services provided by Apple and Google on their respective operating systems.

For example, preventing third parties from selling music or eBooks but this will benefit first-party services such as iTunes or Apple Books.

NTIA admits, to make these kinds of changes, new laws and additional antitrust enforcement measures may be needed to increase competition in the app ecosystem.

So far, neither Apple nor Google have responded to NTIA. This was quoted from Neowin and TechSpot, Saturday, February 4.