This post from the European Commissioner responsible for competition feels a little premature considering, just yesterday, Apple terminated the developer account that Fortnite maker Epic was using to create its own app marketplace for iOS.
The EU is currently chasing Apple to explain its actions, but Vestager seems confident about the outcome.
Currently, OnePlus Watch 2 owners can’t pair the device with a new phone without their existing OHealth app data being completely wiped. But an update provided to Android Central reveals that’s about to change:
“We will be introducing a data migration feature in a future OHealth app update that will allow users to locally migrate their health data by scanning a QR code. This way, users will have control over their data and can securely transfer it to their desired location. We are planning to have this feature on the OHealth app by the end of March.”
This doesn’t address the separate nuisance of having to reset the OnePlus Watch 2 before pairing it with a new device, but the company says it may release a watch transfer feature to address that in a future update.
With iOS 17.4, iPhone users in the EU can now access third-party app marketplaces — pending availability which is expected any day — but extended overseas travel could change that. According to Apple:
If you leave the European Union for short-term travel, you’ll continue to have access to alternative app marketplaces for a grace period. If you’re gone for too long, you’ll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app marketplaces. Apps you installed from alternative app marketplaces will continue to function, but they can’t be updated by the marketplace you downloaded them from.
Apple hasn’t clarified how long this “grace period” is, which is deeply unhelpful for anyone trying to cope with the restriction.
German IT service provider Mobivention will launch its corporate-focused Mobivention App Marketplace on March 7th, the same date that the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) comes into force.
Alternatives to Apple’s iOS App Store have also been announced by Epic and MacPaw, though it seems Mobivention will beat both to market. The company says its App Marketplace is focused on enterprise app distribution, and provides:
Simplified rules for the publication of apps, alternative billing models, a reduced revenue share for in-app purchases and the option of integrating alternative payment solutions.
