The latest update to the iPhone operating system , iOS 17.4, features important changes to the App Store and payments for the iPhone platform in Europe, modifications that Apple has made to comply with new European Union (EU) regulations.

The entry into force of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by the EU aims to make the digital economy fairer by removing the unfair advantages that tech giants have over businesses and end users.

iOS 17.4 , which became available to iPhone users this Tuesday, will allow third-party developers to offer alternative app marketplaces and app downloads to EU users from outside the iOS App Store.

Applications on an iPhone.

Applications on an iPhone. EP

Developers who want to take advantage of the changes will have to be approved by Apple and pay the apple company a “basic technology fee,” which will charge 50 euro cents per installation once an app reaches 1 million downloads per year. .

Until now, Apple charged its competitors around the world a 30% commission on the subscription plans they offered to users in the App Store.

This week, the technology giant received a fine of $1,953.6 million from the European Commission (EC) for applying restrictions from its App Store to competitors of its music streaming service.

What’s new in iOS 17.4

Another change in iOS 17.4 is that third-party developers will now be able to use the iPhone’s NFC payment chip for contactless electronic payment services outside of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet in the European Economic Area.

Additionally, iOS 17.4 allows users in the EU to download alternative browsers such as Chrome and Firefox.

Outside of its DMA obligations, the iOS 17.4 update allows Apple’s Podcasts app to feature audio transcriptions for programs in English, French, German, and Spanish.

Meanwhile, users can now search for specific phrases or words and go directly to that fragment of the episode.

The OS update also includes a new cryptographic protocol for iMessage and more than 100 new emoticons.