When the EU digital market law law (DMA) came into force last year, Apple was forced to implement many changes to iOS – in particular by allowing developers to create web browsers with their own engine. A year later, none of the main web browsers published a specific version of the EU.
In an exclusive interview with 9TO5MACOpera product manager Jona Bolin explains why the changes made by Apple are still not sufficient to increase competition.
The opera benefits from the DMA, but there is no longer to do
The DMA has established a series of requirements for large technicians, also called “guards”, in order to increase competition between their own services and those of third parties.
In addition to allowing the key load on iOS for the first time, Apple also had to allow users to choose their default web browser more easily. Most importantly, EU browsers can now run under another web engine, because Apple is used to forcing each third -party application to use the Safari webkit (which is always the case in the rest of the world).
But how did these modifications affect web browser developers? Jona Bolin, the head of the opera browser for iOS, believes that there is still a lot to do so that third -party web browsers compete with Apple’s safari.
Regarding the choice of default browser on iOS, Bolin says that the opera is “quite satisfied with the final results”. In the EU, iOS users are now invited to know which web browser they want to use after configuring a new device. One report from last year revealed that this change had increased the number of downloads for third -party web browsers, as more and more users become familiar with other options available in the App Store.
“ You must play by their rules ”
Even thus, Bolin maintains that third -party web browsers still have many other limitations on iOS. “You have to play according to their rules. (…) You comply. But that, in a sense, limits you, right? (…) It’s as if Apple did not trust you. ”
Although Apple now allows web browsers to have a personalized engine in the EU, Opera says that “no one really does” because of the way Apple has implemented DMA changes. For example, developers cannot automatically migrate their users from the global browser version to the specific version of the EU. They would also need to work separately on both versions, which would make this “a great risk and a cost”.
The use of webkit means that third -party browsers cannot implement features that Apple does not yet support, which is why Bolin thinks that Apple should allow browsers to have a personalized engine in any country, not just in the EU.
Regarding web browsers, I think we should be able to provide our own web engine in any country. And if it is not possible, they should allow us to provide several binary. So, if you are in Sweden or Portugal, you can download and choose the browser with a personalized engine rather than the system of the system, right?
The opera seems optimistic about the future, because it believes that the combination of global regulatory pressure will ultimately require Apple to open its ecosystem for real. Until then, the company will remain focused on setting up other new features to its browser.
No more opera
During an event held in Lisbon, Portugal, Opera also highlighted its efforts to further improve the opera browser for iOS. The iPhone and iPad application has recently been updated with ARIA, the AI opera chatbot, and is now delivered with a VPN and free content filters. Opera for iOS also supports many system APIs, such as personalized icons and widgets.
The company is proud of the way it builds the opera by thinking of privacy, especially since it is based in Norway and is subject to strict legislation of Europe when it comes to collecting and managing user data. We were also able to see a live demo from the AI navigator operator of the Opera, and it was quite impressive.
The opera for iOS is Available for free on the App Store. You can find more details on opera products on the Company website.
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