All changes iPhone users may see when Apple gives in to EU regulations

USB-C port on iPhone 15

In October 2022, The European Union formally adopted the law that forces phone-makers to only launch devices with USB type-C ports from 2024. The origin of this law is in September 2021 when the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU announced its plans to force brands to use a common charging/data transfer standard. The goal was to cut down on e-waste by making sure users who wish to reuse old charging cables can do so without hassle.

Apple may finally give in to EU pressure and ship the next iPhones with USB-C ports (Image: Ian Zelbo/MacRumors)

The rule is also applicable to other devices like tablets, audio accessories, cameras, and gaming consoles. While Apple is required to include USB-C 2024 onwards, leaked iPhone 15 renders suggest that the company may be doing so this year itself. The iOS 16.4 developer build from February also contained references to a possible USB-C AirPods Pro 3. These new AirPods could be shipped in mass between the second and third quarters of 2023.

Third-party app stores on iOS 17

A Mark Gurman report at Bloomberg from December claimed that Apple may allow outside App Stores on its iPhones and iPads as part of an overhaul aimed at complying with the EU requirements in 2024. “Software engineering and services employees” are reportedly already engaged in the opening up of Apple’s platforms, according to the report.

The result if these changes go through? Customers will be able to download third-party software to their iPhones and iPads without using the App Store, bypassing Apple’s restrictions and the 30% cuts it takes on payments.

It remains to be seen how big of an impact this would have on Apple’s revenue. The company has been especially pinning hopes for revenue growth on services lately, of which the App Store is one of the biggest contributors, and the overhaul can hinder that to an extent.

More unique browsers

While Apple does allow third-party browsers on the App Store, all of them are required to use WebKit – the same browser engine that Safari is based on. But the European Commission is pressurising Apple to drop this requirement because it’s being classified as anti-competitive.

If Apple gives in, other companies will be able to create browsers for iPhone and iPad that could theoretically perform faster than Safari. Browsers will also be able to differentiate themselves better from Safari with unique features that are limited to other web engines like Chromium for example. Using WebKit also inhibits the capability of web apps – a situation that can again be improved.

iMessage interoperability

Another change that may be brought about by the 2024 EU requirements is the opening up of Apple’s proprietary instant messaging service iMessage. The new rules theoretically mean that Meta apps like WhatsApp and Messenger could request to interoperate with the iMessage framework – and Apple will have to oblige.

Right now, iMessage is limited to Apple users and people with Android devices can only communicate to Apple users through SMS. Apple also goes great lengths to ensure that iMessage users can tell Android users apart, with different coloured chat bubbles for iMessage (blue) and SMS (green) users.

Messages to Android users show up in green bubbles on iOS (Express photo)

The lack of iMessage interoperability has been a pet peeve for many, particularly for Google, but Apple may finally have to give in to the EU legislation. One possible way to comply with the requirement would be to adopt the RCS standard. However, Apple is reportedly undecided on how it will comply with it, if it will at all. Engineers believe that the change could hurt end-to-end encryption and other privacy features on iMessage.

But given that EU will fine “as much as 20% of a company’s annual global revenue if they repeatedly violate the law,” Apple will have to oblige in some way or the other. If the company fails to comply with aspects of the Digital Markets Act, the EU is threatening fines of “as much as 20% of a company’s annual global revenue if they repeatedly violate the law.”