“Naked” iPhone: everything you need to know about soon-to-be-compulsory configuration

In a short time,iPhones will have to offer a “naked” experience to their users. In other words, users will all be able to delete apps like Photos or Messages, automatically installed when they first start iOS. This is legislation that is confined to the European continent for the moment, because it is imposed by regulators in Brussels. In the long term, hypotheses even rely on a text obliging smartphone manufacturers not to pre-install their proprietary apps – in other words the iPhone would automatically be delivered “naked”, without in-house apps. Users can then go through the App Store to install the browser of their choice, the media library of their choice, etc.

These requirements come fromDigital Markets Act(DMA), adopted by the European Commission several weeks ago. Apple has already taken the time to update some of its policies to comply with the law: for example, it is possible, since version 17.4 of iOS, to download third-party services without having to go through the App Store. This is a good way for small developers to avoid the 30% commission levied on each integrated purchase by the Apple firm. This is an approximate figure; because we know that some companies like Amazon have already granted themselves a 50% discount.

Safari is also in the sights of the authorities!

According to a new report from the European Union, Apple has not yet offered a sufficiently clear choice for installing a browser. So, when users turn on their iPhone for the first time, Cupertino does not clearly list all the alternatives to Safari. To comply with the Digital Markets Act, the company should therefore explain to Internet users that they can, for example, choose: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome,Arc Searchor even Vivaldi andQuiche Browser. However, it is difficult to imagine how to give the names of all the players in the sector, but a direct display of the App Store category concerned could do the trick.

These rumors are not without echoing other rumors published in the past. According to them, Safari could disappear from our iPhones before the end of the year… 2024! To justify himself,Apple detailed its intentions in a press release. We discover in particular that the history could perhaps be transferred from Safari to another browser, but this remains to be proven.

Little impact on users?

As a general rule, however, let us remember that such novelties in favor of competition are rarely the object of consumers' attention. We know, for example, that the possibility ofdownload apps without going through the App Store(in other words: “sideloading”) does not interest many people beyond the publishers of alternatives strictly speaking, like Setapp from MacPaw.

It is therefore a safe bet that even if Photos, Messages or even Safari leave the iPhones delivered to us in blister packs, users will continue to do so.install manuallyafter opening the box. Apple could also, quite simply, include a small additional leaflet in the box of its iPhones, revealing which apps are “recommended”. Because, let's remember: the law perhaps mentions the case of apps preinstalled on devices, but there seems to be a legal vacuum concerning possible physical and non-virtual media. Any lawyers among our readers? We would be delighted to know and share your opinion.

• “Naked” iPhones without any pre-installed app could see the light of day soon
• Safari, Messages or Apple Photos could thus be downloaded manually from the App Store
• It is the European Commission which imposes it, via the Digital Markets Act which came into force recently.