Big Tech Promises App Store Changes in UK

Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google have pledged to alter their app store practices following directives from the UK's antitrust regulator. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that these tech giants have provided assurances concerning fairness to developers and consumers. These commitments address key areas including data collection, app ranking methodologies, and interoperability.

This development is the first set of voluntary changes secured from major US technology firms since the UK's digital market regime was introduced last year. The CMA had previously identified a duopoly between Apple and Google in the mobile platforms market, designating them with Strategic Market Status. This designation imposes behavioral guardrails on these powerful companies. The new rules empower the CMA to enforce conduct requirements, potentially making it simpler for users to download apps and make payments outside of the firms' native platforms.

The UK's app economy represents approximately 1.5% of the nation's GDP, with Apple and Google's platforms dominating nearly all mobile devices. The agreed-upon changes are slated for implementation starting in April, after the CMA's market review. Both companies have expressed a collaborative approach to resolving the concerns raised by the watchdog.