Japan to open up Apple and Google app stores to competition

The regulations will oblige Apple and Google to allow users to download from app stores other than the ones on their proprietary platforms.

Japan is joining the EU in requiring mobile platforms open up for third party software, and allow third party payment processing.

Perhaps the increasing global regulatory pressure will make Apple concede on blocking third party software sources in general.

4 comments

This is why I've always been on Android. And always will be. We've always been able to download 3rd party apps and use 3rd party app stores.
- Why do you find that such an important factor? Is it just about the principle of having a choice, or is there a particular third party app store you consider essential?
  
  It's mostly because I don't like someone else making decisions for me like for example my vaporizer is Bluetooth and has an app but apple doesn't allow such apps anymore. On Android even if Google stops allowing such apps on the play store I can still get it directly or from an alternative store.