This won't make a major difference for consumers, especially in the app stores. Even if Apple opened the flood gates with no restrictions for alternative stores on their platform, little if anyone is going to migrate away from the App Store.
Look at Android, where alternative app stores have existed for years with little adoption. You have three kinds:
1. Open Source Markets (F-Droid), These are great for free apps but if you sideload this on your dads phone all you'll get are texts like "Where do I get YouTube"
2. Megacorporation Bazaars (Amazon App Store), this means nothing to developers except who you pay your exorbitant fee to, with the added problem of less eyes on your actual product (which users will go out of their way to install an alternative app store?)
3. Sketchy Side Markets / Piracy Stores (APKPure): These will be the main ones people choose to download under the promise of "free apps", and Apple is right to be nervous of the security of these. People will brick their phones trying to get free Robux.
If you don't understand how bad these get I recommend downloading APKPure and using it as your primary app source for a month.
Aurora store does not count, since it is simply an alternative UI for apps hosted on Google Play.
Maybe, maybe, if people can buy apps directly in browser on a developers site, people will do that. But not many.
I appreciate the EU moving towards more open market legislation but this in particular is just window dressing. It'll be just like Cookie Notices - ignored, and everyone moves on.
Look at Android, where alternative app stores have existed for years with little adoption. You have three kinds:
1. Open Source Markets (F-Droid), These are great for free apps but if you sideload this on your dads phone all you'll get are texts like "Where do I get YouTube"
2. Megacorporation Bazaars (Amazon App Store), this means nothing to developers except who you pay your exorbitant fee to, with the added problem of less eyes on your actual product (which users will go out of their way to install an alternative app store?)
3. Sketchy Side Markets / Piracy Stores (APKPure): These will be the main ones people choose to download under the promise of "free apps", and Apple is right to be nervous of the security of these. People will brick their phones trying to get free Robux.
If you don't understand how bad these get I recommend downloading APKPure and using it as your primary app source for a month.
Aurora store does not count, since it is simply an alternative UI for apps hosted on Google Play.
Maybe, maybe, if people can buy apps directly in browser on a developers site, people will do that. But not many.
I appreciate the EU moving towards more open market legislation but this in particular is just window dressing. It'll be just like Cookie Notices - ignored, and everyone moves on.