The Ukrainian company MacPaw is the first company to officially announce an alternative app store for the iPhone in the European Union. A website set up on Thursday evening allows pre-registration for developers. The “Alternative App Marketplace” called Setapp Mobile, as Apple officially calls the new software stores in competition with its own offering, is scheduled to launch “in the spring”. This is made possible by the European Union's new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which comes into force on March 7th.
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Already on the iPhone
It is still unclear how exactly MacPaw, whose daughter Setapp is based in Ireland, will implement its offer. Setapp is a subscription service that offers a large selection of software in the form of a flat rate. With a more expensive subscription price of $12.49, the programs already run not only on the Mac, but also on the iPhone and iPad. However, for the latter two platforms they must be downloaded from Apple's App Store and then specifically registered using a QR code. With Setapp Mobile, MacPaw now has its own virtual sales stand on the iPhone.
MacPaw says it is planning “a carefully selected range of applications”. The tools should come from the areas of productivity / business, creativity and design, lifestyle and productivity, special tools for professionals and utilities. Setapp currently offers tools such as iStat Menus, Ulysses, Yoink and Spark Mail, among others. Well-known providers of independent software are particularly represented in the offer.
Epic Games is number two
It was already known that Epic Games, which is in court with Apple in several app store proceedings in various countries, is planning its own alternative app marketplace. The company has now received developer access again. However, Apple's approach to complying with the DMA is by no means uncontroversial. Providers have to deposit a credit line worth millions in order to be allowed to participate.
There are also fees for installations amounting to 50 euro cents per year. Epic boss Tim Sweeney has already described this as “malicious compliance”. Apple is trying to keep developers in its own system.
(bsc)