Reportedly apple Inc. is considering giving rival apps more prominence on iPhones and iPads and opening its HomePod speaker to third-party music services after criticism the company provides an unfair advantage to its in-house products. The technology giant is discussing whether to let users choose third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile devices, replacing the company’s Safari browser and Mail app, according to people familiar with the matter.
Perhaps since launching the App Store in 2008, apple hasn’t allowed users to replace pre-installed apps such as these with third-party services. That has made it difficult for some developers to compete, and has raised concerns from lawmakers probing potential antitrust violations in the technology industry. The web browser and mail are two of the most-used apps on the iphone and iPad. To date, rival browsers like google Chrome and Firefox and mail apps like gmail and microsoft Outlook have lacked the status of Apple’s products.
Moreover for instance, if a user clicks a web link sent to them on an iphone, it will automatically open in Safari. Similarly, if a user taps an email address say, from a text message or a website they’ll be sent to the apple Mail app with no option to switch to another email program. Now, apple is working to allow third-party music services to run directly on the HomePod, said the people. Spotify and other third-party music apps can stream from an iphone or iPad to the HomePod via Apple’s AirPlay technology.
