Apple to Enable Sideloading in Europe by Splitting the App Store in Two Ahead of EU Deadline says Mark Gurman

Apple is working on enabling support for sideloading in the EU in the coming weeks, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Apple will have to comply with a DMA ( Digital MArketing Act) deadline of March 7, which means that support for installing apps outside the App Store — currently unsupported in any region — is expected to arrive in the EU within the next few weeks. Apple is also expected to allow developers to add support for third-party payment providers and promote offers that are available outside the App Store.

Gurman states that the iPhone maker will split the App store in two in the coming weeks, in order to comply with the requirements under the DMA. The version of the App Store offered to users in the EU will be different from the standard version available to users in other countries.

Under the DMA Apple will also be forced to allow users to sideload apps — effectively allowing applications to be installed outside the App Store. Android smartphone owners have been able to sideload apps for years, by downloading and installing Android package (APK) files.

Apple must also allow developers to offer third-party payment systems in their apps while also allowing them to advertise offers that are not available via the App Store, in order to comply with the DMA.