App Store News
Our latest news and analysis coverage of app stores and additional distribution channels for mobile and other smart apps.
States rally around proposed US laws to rein in Big Tech
A bipartisan group of US state attorneys general sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to pass a series of bills that tighten antitrust laws aimed at Big Tech companies like Faceb...
Big Tech’s little mergers draw more US antitrust scrutiny
US Federal Trade Commission staff presented data on small acquisitions by five big technology companies, and the agency scrapped guidelines on vertical mergers which combine a comp...
WhatsApp launches test of in-app business directory
Messaging service WhatsApp launched a new feature to make it possible to search for businesses within its app for the first time, the company told journalists.
Google says it offers more than $10 billion in consumer benefits in South Korea
Google has said its presence in South Korea equates to nearly 12 trillion won (approximately $10.16 billion) in economic benefits for its users, as the US tech giant faces increase...
Russia fines Facebook, Twitter for not deleting banned content
A Russian court has said it had fined US social media companies Facebook and Twitter for failing to delete content that Moscow deems illegal, part of a wider crackdown by Russia on...
Epic ruling invites future efforts to paint Apple as monopolist
A US judge stopped short of labelling Apple Inc an “illegal monopolist” on Friday, but the closely-watched ruling provides a roadmap for similar claims against the iPho...
US judge orders Apple to ease App Store rules
A federal judge in the US has struck down some of Apple’s App Store rules, forcing the company to allow developers to send their users to other payment systems in a partial w...
Federal Trade Commission meeting will investigate Big Tech’s small deals
The US FTC will hold its next open meeting on the 15th of September to hear staff findings on deals that Big Tech businesses such as Facebook and Apple make which are sometimes too...
After criticism, Apple says it will delay child safety updates
Apple Inc has said it would take more time to collect feedback and improve proposed child safety features after the criticism of the system on privacy and other grounds both inside...
Apple gives ‘reader’ apps a way around commissions. Who wins?
Apple has made a new concession on how App Store developers work with customers: it will allow subscription and content apps that it calls “reader” apps, a category tha...
Apple’s App Store concessions fail to address top concerns
In the space of a week, Apple Inc made two sets of changes to its App Store rules, which are the subject of lawsuits, regulatory probes and legislation around the world, but the tw...
Apple offers small concession in easing App Store rules for Netflix, others
Apple Inc further loosened App Store rules, allowing some content companies like Netflix Inc to provide links to their websites so customers can sign up for paid accounts.
South Korea’s parliament passes bill to curb Google, Apple commission dominance
South Korea’s parliament has now approved a bill that bans major app store operators such as Google and Apple from forcing software developers to use their payment systems, e...
Lobbying: Google, Facebook, Microsoft top EU spending
Google, Facebook and Microsoft are the three biggest lobbying spenders in Europe in a battle against tough new laws aimed at curbing US tech giants’ powers, a study released ...