Apple has announced three new options for developers within the European Union, giving them the opportunity to promote their applications via their own websites, set their own strategies within their applications, and other features.

Just last week, the company incorporated the feature for alternative app stores into iOS 17.4 for users in the EU, where app stores from third parties can now exclusively offer their own collections. This allows companies like a game studio to offer its own products via an exclusive app store on the platform.

Developers now have the flexibility to shape their offers, discounts, and promotional activities in their apps as they wish when directing users to complete transactions via their websites. Apple is now offering optional guidelines for designing these connections.

In addition, developers will soon be able to distribute applications directly from their websites, provided they comply with specific criteria set by Apple. They are required to be members of Apple’s developer program for at least two years and have apps with over one million installations in the EU in the previous year. Applications that meet these prerequisites can be distributed via approved websites and must comply with Apple’s security requirements.

Approved developers will also have access to APIs that facilitate the distribution of apps from the web, allowing them to incorporate system features, create backups, and other actions. This feature will be made available with an upcoming software update, allowing for the direct download of apps from websites for the first time in iOS.

These new additions respond to the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and are exclusively applied to the European Union, aiming for a more open and fair digital market.