With the implementation of DMA, the day when the App Store will no longer reign supreme on iPhone is fast approaching. And in fact, a certain store is already in pole position to be the first to make its debut on iOS. Her name ? AltStore, which offers many interesting features compared to its rival.
For several weeks, iOS users have been expecting a major upheaval within the operating system. Indeed, the implementation of the DMA makes the App Store a gatekeeper, which it will have to change to comply with new European regulations. Starting with the end of the monopoly: from this year, new alternative stores will be able to enter iOS, offering users the possibility of downloading applications elsewhere on the App Store.
A small revolution which is however struggling to get started. For the moment, in fact, the contenders are not jostling each other at the gate. It must be said that Apple does not seem to comply with European laws cheerfully. After accepting Epic’s return to its ecosystem, the Cupertino company still decided to put obstacles in its way. Despite everything, a store is now trying to compete with the App Store – and could well become its first official rival.
AltStore could soon compete with the App Store on iOS
AltStore is, as its name indicates, an alternative application store born in 2019. However, as its co-creator Riley Testut indicates on Mastodon, it has just obtained validation of its developer account on iOS . This account is required to open a store on the operating system. In other words, we are perhaps only a few weeks away from seeing the first alternative store arrive in the Apple ecosystem.
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If so, it will be a real breath of fresh air for users. AltStore already plans to offer developers the option to charge for certain updates. Also, the store authorizes the publication of emulators, which is not the case with the App Store. With its arrival, users will be able to try retro games on their iPhone, between two games of Resident Evil 4.