Great Britain: Apple and Google commit to app store opening

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Apple and Google have made concessions to regulators in Great Britain, which could come into effect from May. As the responsible competition authority (Competition and Markets Authority, CMA) announced, the two US corporations are committing to measures that are intended to ensure greater fairness in app stores and interoperability in iOS. In an official statement, Apple praised the positive dialogue with the authorities. Unofficially, it is heard from company circles that the company is pleased that the authorities in Great Britain, as previously in Japan and Brazil, are more constructively interested in solutions from Apple's perspective than the European Union.

According to the proposals, which have now been put out for public consultation by the CMA for several weeks until March 3, both companies commit to providing clearer reasons for app rejections in the future and to outlining concrete solutions. Developers are to receive extensive access to their app data, such as downloads and revenues, and their complaints are to be processed more quickly. There are also concessions regarding the review process for new apps. Regular reports are to be submitted to the CMA.

Status quo or real concessions?

Apple also intends to comply with interoperability requirements through some measures. These include detailed documentation of iOS functions and developer interfaces (APIs), a transparent roadmap for changes in iOS, simultaneous access to new hardware features for third-party providers, and the possibility for developers to apply for access to certain functions. Apple can then weigh whether this request endangers the security of its systems or its users' data.

It remains unclear whether the companies are merely formalizing what they are already practicing today, or if their concessions truly go beyond that and British developers will receive more than developers abroad. For example, Apple's App Review has long provided reasons why an app was rejected and often suggests solutions.

Still no understanding for EU regulation

As in Japan and Brazil, Apple will likely be able to live with the concessions in Great Britain, heise online has learned from company circles. Although Apple considers the regulation unnecessary, it would rather not block it if it respects the company's core values such as data protection, copyrights, and security. However, there is apparently still no understanding in Cupertino for the EU's approach. It hinders innovation, forces Apple to hand over its intellectual property to others before it benefits its users, and is driven by the interests of individual multi-billion dollar corporations.

In October 2025, the CMA had classified Apple and Google as “strategic market players”, similar to the gatekeeper status that the European Union grants under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to classify players with a certain reach as particularly market-relevant. These companies are thus subject to stricter obligations to open up their platforms and treat developers fairly.

What happens next

After the public consultation is completed, the CMA will decide whether the measures will be concretely implemented. This is scheduled to happen on April 1. The commitments would then initially apply for five years. In case of violations, the companies face billions in fines, which can amount to up to 10 percent of their worldwide annual turnover. In parallel, the CMA is also examining Apple's browser engine and Google Play.

(mki)