Apple and Google agree to change app stores after 'effective duopoly' claim

Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their respective app stores, following concerns raised by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about the "effective duopoly" they hold in the market. The proposed commitments include: 1. Allowing developers to offer users alternative ways to access their apps, bypassing the app stores. 2. Improving the transparency of app store policies and offering more avenues for developers to challenge decisions. 3. Preventing the preferential treatment of their own apps over those of competitors. The CMA believes these changes will "boost the UK's app economy" by promoting competition and giving consumers more choice. The regulator will now seek feedback from interested parties before deciding whether to accept the commitments. This development highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny faced by tech giants, as authorities aim to address concerns about market dominance and lack of competition in the digital space.