Apple says it plans to make it easier for customers to switch to Android thanks to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) that comes into effect today. In addition to support for alternative app stores, new business terms for EU app developers, and a mobile browser selection screen, the iPhone maker said it will also add to its data portability offerings, including more “user-friendly ” data movement feature from iPhone to another non-Apple device.
The solution isn’t available yet, the company said, but Apple promises it will be ready by fall 2025. The announcement comes in a document detailing Apple’s plans to comply with new EU laws aimed at increasing competition in the app ecosystem by requiring Apple to loosen its control over the App Store and iOS. Despite strong opposition from developers, Apple has cleverly circumvented the potential financial impact of DMA on its business by adding new fees to developers who want to switch to DMA rules.
In addition to the App Store, DMA also solves the problem of data portability. In this regard, Apple’s data and privacy website is being updated to allow users to export their App Store data to authorized third parties, the document said. Now, users can request to transfer iCloud photos to Google Photos, or download a variety of data collected by Apple apps, such as notes, calendars, contacts, maps, wallet activity, mail, Safari bookmarks and reading lists. Apple said that users can also schedule daily downloads of App Store data for 30 days, or weekly downloads for 180 days, and the data provided will be continuously updated with the latest data.
While on the topic of moving to Android, Apple didn’t reveal much about the new project other than to say that its solution will help other “mobile OS providers” build better solutions for transferring data from iPhone to non-iPhone users. iPhone. Apple doesn’t actually use the word “Android” in the filing, but it’s clear that Google’s mobile operating system would be the biggest beneficiary of such a system.
In addition, Apple noted that another solution for exporting browser data to a new browser on the same device will be ready later this year or early 2025.
Now, potential Android users can use Google’s “Switch to Android” iOS app to migrate important content (such as contacts, calendars, photos, videos, messages, etc.) to a new Android device. But some less important data is still missing, and users must also deactivate iMessage to ensure their new messages reach their Android. It’s unclear whether Apple’s new solution will address these areas, as Apple hasn’t revealed specific targets for improvements.
