Apple’s App Store monopoly could end eventually once it allows sideloading
At the time, the FAS released a statement that said, “Apple was found to have abused its dominant position in the distribution of mobile applications on the iOS operating system through a series of actions that led to a competitive advantage for its own products, and at the same time worsened the distribution conditions for competing products.” Apple claimed that it removed a number of parental tracking apps from the App Store because they were invasive and “put users’ privacy and security at risk.”
Apple allegedly blocked an update to Kaspersky’s Safe Kids app because of its own Screen Time app
Apple claims that having total control over the App Store makes the iPhone more secure
Apple isn’t totally wrong about this since its walled garden does give it control over the apps installed on an iPhone. On the other hand, people don’t like to be told what to eat or drink or put into their bodies and many feel that they should be allowed to make their own decision whether or not to risk having their iPhone attacked by a malware-infected app that contains a banking trojan (which will steal the log-in info to their banking apps).
Whew! Did we take a detour! Anyway, should Apple allow sideloading on the iPhone, the company would no longer be accused of being a monopoly. Right now though, there is only one official way to install an app on an iPhone and that is through iOS. And this means that developers have to pay the Apple tax on in-app purchases. And regardless of the fines imposed on Apple, it still remains more profitable for it to demand that developers pay the 15% to 30% tax.
