Gatekeeper iPadOS: Apple must also open iPad in the EU

The EU Commission has now classified Apple's tablet operating system as a "gatekeeper." As a result, the manufacturer must ensure within six months that iPadOS complies with the extensive rules of the Digital Markets Act, the regulatory authority announced on Monday. This means that Apple must now fundamentally open up the iPad, just as it did with the iPhone: In addition to sideloading and other marketplaces as App Store alternatives, iPadOS will also support full browsers from other manufacturers.

EU: iPad an important platform for businesses

A market investigation has indicated that iPadOS is an important platform for companies to reach end customers, . The number of business users is significantly above the threshold set by the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Unlike iOS, regulators had not initially classified iPadOS as a gatekeeper service because the operating system has fewer than 45 million active users within the EU, falling below the threshold set by the DMA. However, the number of users is close to this threshold and is likely to continue growing, according to the Commission. Additionally, users are "locked-in" and find it difficult to switch to other tablet operating systems. This also applies to companies since there is a "large and commercially attractive user base" on the iPad, for example, for gaming apps. Until now, these users could only be reached through Apple's App Store, with its rules and business conditions.

Apple intends to "continue working constructively with the European Commission to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) across all relevant services," the company stated in a communication to Mac & i.

In the EU, there is now a first alternative app store for iPhones, with more announced. In response to this competition, Apple has also relaxed some controversial rules in the App Store.

iOS and iPadOS are largely identical technically

The classification of iPadOS as a gatekeeper happened faster than expected: The EU Commission had originally spoken of a year-long investigation, with results not expected until the fall. Technically, this should not pose major challenges for Apple, as iOS and iPadOS are largely identical. For a long time, the tablet operating system was simply called "iOS" until it was given its own name in 2019.

(lbe)