Browser Opera: Apple’s DMA changes are not sufficient

The Norwegian-Chinese browser manufacturer Opera sees problems in Apple’s implementation of the Digital Market Act (DMA) of the European Union. The responsible product manager Jona Bolin is primarily bothered by the fact that none of the large suppliers of surf tools have started to build a browser with its own engine – although this is officially allowed. According to Bolin, nobody implements a custom engine because Apple separates the markets.

So your own engine is only allowed within the European Union, but not in other markets. It is also not possible to automatically migrate users of the “global” version that Apple’s webkit must use in the EU. This means that the manufacturers have to maintain two browser versions-and use users to use the “correct”.

Do not change, double development expensive

Like the Opera product manager Compared to the Apple Blog 9to5mac Furthermore, in addition to the engine topic, there is also “many other” restrictions on iOS. “You have to play according to Apple’s rules. They take part. But that also limits them in a certain way. It’s like Apple is not trusting them.” Two versions of the opera browser are “a great risk and cause high costs”. The compulsion to webkit means that functions could not be introduced that webkit does not have.

Apple must allow its own engine for browser companies “in every country”, not only in the EU. Alternatively, it should be possible to deliver several binaries. “If you are in Sweden or Portugal, you should then download it and choose the browser that has the custom engine instead of that of the system.”

Default app changes possible

After all, Opera and Co. are now easier to become the standard browser under iOS. Apple has made it possible to determine alternative web programs, now this is also possible with telephony, text messages, translations and more.

However, Apple has her finger again here: the company has to wave through apps accordingly before they are included in the selection. The Setup of the default apps is also possible outside of Europe, but there is only a “browser choice screen” in the EU and also navigation and NFC apps from third-party providers can only be raised in certain regions.