ASO news digest for March
The App Store will only accept apps adapted for iOS 15. New EU law may force Apple to allow downloading apps from third parties. In Google Play, app ratings will soon be divided by device and the ranking of apps for devices with large screens will change.
Contests
1. Apple has changed the requirements for applying to the App Store
2. Reader app publishers will be able to use third-party payment methods in the App Store
3. New EU law may force Apple to allow downloading apps from third parties
4. Apple’s fine in the Netherlands reaches 50 million euros
5. Apple faces a multibillion-euro class action lawsuit in the Netherlands over the App Store commission
6. Google started working on the possibility of introducing third-party billing
7. Google announced three updates on Google Play for devices with large screens
8. Asodesk is a Leader in App Store Optimization according to G2
9. We held a webinar on working with the sales funnel in apps
App Store news
Apple has changed the requirements for applying to the App Store
From April 25, 2022, Apple will only accept apps that are adapted for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey.
Developers should now create apps using Xcode 13, which includes the latest SDK. Apple recommends taking advantage of new features to improve app performance, make the interface more intuitive, and refactor the code.
Thanks to the latest SwiftUI updates, developers will be able to add new features to apps, such as improved list views and search, as well as support for management areas.
Reader app publishers will be able to use third-party payment methods in the App Store
Last year, Apple announced that they would allow reader apps to include a link to a website for creating and managing an account. This will let developers receive payment from users through their site without paying a commission to the App Store. On March 30, the update went into effect and was added to App Store Review 3.1.3(a).
However, the new feature has a number of limitations:
1. To use the feature, you need to apply for an External Link Account Entitlement. This allows Apple to more carefully review apps wanting to add links to an external site.
2. The feature will be available only for those developers whose primary functionality is providing one or more of the following digital content types; magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video. For example, it won’t work for a social media app that allows people to stream audiovisual content.
3. If an app allows external accounts, it will no longer be able to offer in-app purchases on iPhone or iPad.
4. A link to a website cannot be added to the app’s metadata; it can only be included in the app itself.
5. The link must not indicate the prices of goods on the website. The CTA should be similar to: “Go to example.com to create or manage your account.”
Read more about the requirements for adding external links to reader apps.
New EU law may force Apple to allow downloading apps from third parties
Representatives of the Parliament and the Council agreed on new EU rules limiting the market power of large online platforms. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) will force Apple to allow users to install apps from stores other than the App Store.
European Commission spokesperson Johannes Bahrke said the DMA would allow users to choose alternative app sources. Smartphone owners can use the default app store or choose other secure app stores.
Apple will also have to allow users to install apps from third-party sources (also known as sideloading) and allow developers to use the App Store without Apple payment systems.
The European Parliament has not yet passed this law, but it is expected to be approved without much trouble. The DMA may enter into force as early as October of 2022. The EU countries will then choose how to interpret the EU act in national law.
Apple’s fine in the Netherlands reaches 50 million euros
The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has fined Apple for the tenth time with the total amount of fines already exceeding 50 million euros. On December 24, the regulator demanded that Apple add the option of third-party payment for dating apps.
The first proposal from Apple did not satisfy the regulator, and now the company has corrected it by:
1. Removing the requirement for a separate binary file;
2. Providing more specific criteria for evaluating payment service providers that may be used for third party payments;
3. Mandating a modal window explaining to users that they are going to make purchases through an external payment system.
ACM promised to review the proposal but warned that further sanctions could be imposed on Apple if they found the proposal unacceptable again.
The ACM order could also lead to more serious EU requirements that would limit Apple’s anti-competitive behavior towards app publishers.
Apple faces a multibillion-euro class action lawsuit in the Netherlands over the App Store commission
The Netherlands Consumer Competition Claims Foundation has filed a lawsuit against Apple in the amount of several billion euros. The lawsuit claims that the App Store commission of 15% or 30% of the app price is higher than it should be. The foundation reports that potential damage to consumers could amount to almost 5 billion euros (5.5 billion dollars).
The foundation’s press release says that Apple is abusing its monopoly position, and a 30% commission on each app sale forces developers to raise prices. All consumers from the EU who have purchased an app in the App Store or made a purchase in the app since September 2009 are encouraged to join the lawsuit.
Google Play news
Google started working on the possibility of introducing third-party billing
Google is launching a pilot project that aims to explore the possibility of “billing at the user’s choice”. The project will allow a small number of participating developers to offer users an additional method of billing along with the ability to pay through Google Play.
The company will work with developers to explore various billing options at the user’s discretion. Spotify became the first partner of the program. They will introduce their billing system in the app along with the Google Play system.
Spotify declined to disclose what commission it would pay to Google as part of the test. A pilot version of the system is expected to be launched later this year.
Google announced three updates on Google Play for devices with large screens
Google has announced three updates that will soon appear on Google Play for devices with large screens:
1. Changes in ranking
In the coming months, the system for displaying and ranking apps on devices with large screens will be updated. Priority will be given to high-quality apps that are better optimized for users’ devices.
2. Alerts for users who install low-quality apps
Google will notify users of devices with large screens if the app they choose does not meet basic compatibility requirements. This way, users will know which apps are not working well on their devices.
3. Ratings and reviews for specific devices
Users will see the ratings and reviews of apps for their devices. For example, ratings for tablets and foldable devices, as well as for Chrome OS, Wear, or Auto systems. In Google Play Console, developers can check ratings and reviews by device type.
Google also shared tips for optimizing apps for large screens.
Asodesk news
Asodesk is a Leader in App Store Optimization according to G2
This spring, we became the leader in the App Store Optimization category according to the platform G2. It’s about as cool for an IT service as winning a Grammy is for a musician.
In the spring reports, we received a total of 9 awards from G2, including the following badges:
⭐️ Leader in the App Store Optimization category.
⭐️ Easiest To Do Business With in the App Store Optimization category.
⭐️ High Performer in the world and Europe in the categories of App Store Optimization and Mobile Analytics.
⭐️ Best Meets Requirement Small Business in the Mobile App Analytics.
⭐️ High Performer Small Business in the categories of App Store Optimization, Mobile Analytics and Mobile App Analytics.
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on Asodesk via social media and on the G2 platform. We would be grateful if you could leave a review about Asodesk on G2 as it is your feedback that helps us create new features and refine existing tools.
We held a webinar on working with the sales funnel in apps
On March 30, experts from Asodesk, Adapty, and G5 spoke on how to work with the sales funnel in mobile apps correctly.
We discussed:
- How to attract a potential user to the app page.
- How to motivate users to download the app.
- What mistakes to avoid when introducing an app to the user.
- How to increase app subscriptions.
- And much more!
Watch the webinar recording to boost installs and subscriptions in your apps.
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