Japan allows rival app stores on iPhone - AI News Today Recency

Japan has officially forced open a long-closed door: iPhone users in Japan can now install apps from rival app stores and developers can process payments outside Apple’s In‑App Purchase system under the country’s new Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), and Apple has published rules and technical updates to implement those changes while warning about new security risks[1][4].

What Japan’s MSCA requires and how Apple is responding Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act prevents Apple and Google from blocking third‑party app stores on mobile devices and requires companies to provide multiple default service options for first‑time users, among other measures intended to curb market dominance and increase consumer choice[3][2]. Apple announced changes to iOS in Japan to comply with the MSCA, including allowing developers to distribute apps through *authorized* alternative marketplaces and to offer alternative in‑app payment methods for digital goods and services[1][6]. Apple said it will require those alternative marketplaces to be authorized by Apple and meet ongoing requirements, and it will perform a basic security check (notarization) on apps distributed via those marketplaces to reduce fraud and content risks[1][2][4].

How the new model works for developers and commissions Under Apple’s announced framework, developers in Japan can set up their own app marketplaces on iPhones and pay Apple a reduced fee on sales made through those marketplaces, with reports indicating Apple may accept fees as low as 5% for alternative marketplaces while continuing to apply different commission levels for other flows[2]. Developers distributing through Apple’s App Store will be allowed to link to or offer external payment options for purchases made outside the app, although Apple said it will still charge commissions for those external payments in some cases — Reuters reported differential rates such as a 15% fee for link‑out payments and a 26% fee for standard App Store purchases[2]. Apple’s developer documentation (iOS 26.2) and support pages provide technical guidance for implementing these distribution and payment options in Japan[6][1].

Security, moderation and user-protection tradeoffs Apple has emphasized that apps installed outside its App Store won’t receive the same App Review protections and warned that opening iOS to alternative marketplaces introduces “new avenues for malware, fraud, scams, and privacy and security risks.” To address that, Apple and Japanese regulators built an authorization and notarization process for third‑party marketplaces and required age ratings and other safeguards similar to App Store policies[1][4]. Critics and some industry observers caution that third‑party stores could still lead to inconsistent moderation, reduced privacy guarantees, and higher exposure to malicious software if marketplace standards are weaker than Apple’s[4][3].

How this differs from Europe and what it may mean globally Japan’s approach differs from Europe’s Digital Markets Act and other regulatory regimes because Apple retains authority to approve and set conditions for alternative marketplaces in Japan, rather than being required to accept any third party without approval[2]. The Japanese law also includes provisions for interoperability requests concerning device hardware, but Apple said it can reject requests that would expose sensitive user data, indicating limits on how far hardware openness will go[2]. Observers say Japan’s model could become a hybrid precedent — more opening than Apple’s historical policy but more controlled than some European measures — and that regulators elsewhere will monitor implementation and market effects closely[2][3][4].

What users should expect next and practical steps iPhone users in Japan can expect software updates (e.g., iOS 26.2) and Apple guidance that enable installation from authorized alternative marketplaces once developers or marketplace operators obtain Apple authorization and implement the required notarization and age‑rating checks[6][1]. Users should be advised to verify the authorization status of any alternative marketplace and to exercise caution with apps installed outside the App Store because they may not have undergone Apple’s App Review process[1][4]. Developers planning to operate or list apps on alternative marketplaces will need to follow Apple’s technical rules and authorization process and decide which payment flows and commission structures make sense for their business[6][2].

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly did Japan require Apple to change? Japan’s MSCA prohibits Apple and Google from blocking third‑party app stores and requires offering multiple default service options; Apple must allow authorized alternative app marketplaces on iPhones in Japan and let developers offer external in‑app payments for digital goods and services, subject to Apple’s authorization and technical requirements[3][1][6].

Will alternative app stores have the same safety checks as the App Store? No. Apple has said apps distributed outside the App Store will not receive the same App Review protections and warned of increased risks; Apple will, however, require an authorization process for marketplaces and perform a basic notarization security check on apps from those marketplaces to mitigate some risks[1][4].

How much will Apple charge for sales made through rival app stores? Apple’s announced framework allows lower fees for alternative marketplaces — reporting indicates Apple may accept commission rates as low as 5% for those marketplaces — while maintaining higher fees for some App Store flows; reported examples include a 15% fee for external link payments and a 26% fee for standard App Store purchases, though exact terms depend on Apple’s policies and developer choices[2][4].

Will this change apply outside Japan? The current changes are specific to Japan to comply with the MSCA; Apple’s policies differ by jurisdiction, and Japan’s model (which allows Apple approval of marketplaces) is distinct from requirements in Europe and other regions[2][6].

Could this lead to more malware or scams on iPhones? Apple and industry analysts warn that opening iOS to third‑party marketplaces increases the potential for malware, fraud, and scams because apps outside the App Store won’t automatically benefit from App Review; Apple’s notarization and authorization steps are intended to reduce those risks but cannot eliminate them entirely[1][4].

How should users and developers prepare? Users should only install apps from authorized alternative marketplaces and remain cautious about permissions and payment flows; developers should review Apple’s iOS 26.2 developer guidance, decide whether to distribute via the App Store or an authorized marketplace, and plan for the authorization, notarization, and commission implications described by Apple[6][1].