iOS 17.2 Hints At Apple Moving Towards Letting Users Sideload Apps

9to5Mac has found evidence in the iOS 17.2 beta code that hints the company is moving towards enabling sideloading on iOS devices. From the report: iOS 17.2 has a new public framework called "Managed App Distribution." While our first thought was that this API would be related to MDM solutions for installing enterprise apps (which is already possible on iOS), it seems that Apple has been working on something more significant than that. By analyzing the new API, we've learned that it has an extension endpoint declared in the system, which means that other apps can create extensions of this type. Digging even further, we found a new, unused entitlement that will give third-party apps permission to install other apps. In other words, this would allow developers to create their own app stores. The API has basic controls for downloading, installing, and even updating apps from external sources. It can also check whether an app is compatible with a specific device or iOS version, which the App Store already does. Again, this could easily be used to modernize MDM solutions, but here's another thing. We also found references to a region lock in this API, which suggests that Apple could restrict it to specific countries. This wouldn't make sense for MDM solutions, but it does make sense for enabling sideloading in particular countries only when required by authorities -- such as in the European Union. Under the European Union's Digital Markets Act, or DMA, big tech companies will be required to, among other things, allow users to install any apps they want from third-party sources. "In theory, Apple is required to comply with DMA legislation by March 2024," reports 9to5Mac. "The company has even admitted in a Form 10-K filing that it expects to make changes that will impact the App Store's business model."

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