Apple weighs loosening restrictions on rival iPhone, music apps on its devices
- The tech giant has been criticised for providing an unfair advantage to its in-house products
- It is now discussing whether to loosen restrictions on web browser, mail and music apps on its devices, according to people familiar with the matter
The technology giant is discussing whether to let users choose third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile devices, replacing the company’s Safari browser and Mail app, according to people familiar with the matter. Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple has not allowed users to replace pre-installed apps such as these with third-party services. That has made it difficult for some developers to compete, and has raised concerns from lawmakers probing potential antitrust violations in the technology industry.
The web browser and mail are two of the most-used apps on the iPhone and iPad. To date, rival browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox and mail apps like Gmail and Microsoft Outlook have lacked the status of Apple’s products. For instance, if a user clicks a web link sent to them on an iPhone, it will automatically open in Safari. Similarly, if a user taps an email address – say, from a text message or a website – they’ll be sent to the Apple Mail app with no option to switch to another email program.
The Cupertino, California-based company also is considering loosening restrictions on third-party music apps, including its top streaming rival Spotify Technology, on HomePods, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal company deliberations.
Apple’s closed system to prohibit users from setting third-party apps as defaults was questioned last year during a hearing of a US House of Representatives antitrust panel. Lawmakers pressed the issue of whether iPhone users can make non-Apple apps their defaults in categories including web browsers, maps, email and music.
Being a default app on the world’s bestselling smartphone is valuable because consumers are subtly coaxed and prodded into using this more-established software rather than alternatives. Keeping users tethered to Apple’s services is important to the company as the growth of smartphone demand slows and sales of music, video, cloud storage and other subscriptions make up a greater share of the iPhone maker’s total revenue.