JAKARTA - Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their app stores to make the mobile app ecosystem fairer and more transparent for developers. This was said by the British competition regulator on Tuesday, February 10. The authority called this an important initial step in a stricter supervisory regime for technology giants.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in October 2025 designated Apple and Google as companies with strategic market status in the smart phone sector. This designation gives the CMA the authority to demand specific changes to encourage healthier competition.
Almost all smartphones in the UK run Apple's iOS or Google's Android operating systems. The app stores and browsers controlled by the two companies have a dominant, even exclusive, position on each platform.
According to the CMA, in the new commitment agreed to, Apple and Google promised to review applications fairly, objectively, and transparently. In addition, developers will be given the opportunity to request access to more Apple-owned iOS features to create competing products, including in areas such as digital wallets and instant translation.
The regulator previously stated that the dominance of the two companies allowed them to have a major influence on content, services, and the direction of technological development in the digital market.
Apple in its statement confirmed that the company faces "intense competition in every market where we operate" and continues to strive to deliver the best products, services, and user experiences. "The commitment announced today allows Apple to continue to advance important innovations in the field of privacy and security for users, while opening up great opportunities for developers," the company said.
Google said that while it believed the current developer management practices were fair, objective, and transparent, the company welcomed the opportunity to resolve the CMA's concerns collaboratively.
This agreement is a signal that the pressure of regulators on the dominance of digital platforms is becoming more real. For Apple and Google, this change may feel like a small compromise. But for developers, this step could be the first crack to breathe more freely in an ecosystem that has long been considered too closed.
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