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Imagine it’s possible to balance regulatory desires to limit Apple’s market power with the welfare of the company’s existing customer base. Imagine a regulatory environment characterized by mutual respect and a willingness to collaborate on solutions, a place where Apple is forced to change some of its business practices, but in ways that benefit both competitors and customers.
That’s what you get in Japan.
How has Apple changed the App Store in Japan?
Following years of resistance and in order to bring its service in line with the Japanese equivalent of Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) — Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) — Apple has introduced a variety of changes to the way it runs its App Store. Described in depth on Apple’s own developer page, the changes made to iOS in Japan include:
App distribution
- App Store payment options on the App Store
- Distribution on alternative app marketplaces
- Creation of an alternative app marketplace
- Prioritization of child safety with alternative payments on the App Store
- New business terms
iOS capabilities
- Browser and search engine choice screens
- Default app controls
- Alternative web browser engines
- Side button access for voice-based
- Conversational apps
- Requests for additional interoperability.