A web advocacy group says that iPhone users still get no real web browser choice more than a year after this was supposed to happen under antitrust legislation.The non-profit Open Web Advocacy (OWA) claims Apple deliberately places obstacles in the path of developers, and that’s because doing so protects a large slice of its profits … In theory, Apple allows choice Since the first iPhone, Apple retained exclusive control over web browsing on the device.Even when third-party browsers were allowed onto the iPhone, they had to use Apple’s own browsing engine, WebKit.
The implication is that no competing browser could offer faster performance than Safari, nor offer features not available in Safari.Effectively they could only put their own branded wrapper around the same app.The EU declared this unlawful, and said that Apple must allow free competition by third-party browser companies, allowing them to use their own engines.
The iPhone maker complied in principle, and both Google and Mozilla started working on creating versions of their web browsers that used their own engines instead of WebKit.These browsers would only be allowed on iPhones in the EU.But it’s malicious compliance, argues OWA However, some 15 months later, OWA says there are literally no iPhone web browsers available using a different browser engine, and that’s due to malicious compliance by Apple.
That is, the company deliberately places technical, legal, marketing, and practical barriers in the way of developers wanting to do it.Specifically, the OWA called out four types of barrier: Technical: Apple gave no way for developers to test apps using third-party browser engines Legal: Apple imposes “harsh” and “one-sided” legal terms on developers Marketing: Apple doesn’t let existing third-party browser users update to a new app, but forces the download of a completely new one Practical: Apple blocks updates of apps if EU users travel outside the bloc for more than 30 days Since then, it says, Apple has addressed the technical issue, but not the others.Apple is motivated by profit It says the reason Apple does all this is to protect the profits it currently makes from Safari.
While that deal looks unlikely to survive a separate legal ruling, it remains in place for now.Apple denies any wrong-doing, saying it has complied with the law and doesn’t know why nobody has created an iPhone browser with a third-party engine.Highlighted accessories Official Apple Store on Amazon Anker 511 Nano Pro ultra-compact iPhone charger Spigen MagFit case for iPhone 16e – adds MagSafe support Apple MagSafe Charger with 25w power for iPhone 16 models Apple 30W charger for above Anker 240W braided USB-C to USB-C cable You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.
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