Apple is considering allowing iPhone and iPad users to set third-party mail and browser apps as defaults instead of the mobile operating system’s preference for its own Safari and Mail apps, according to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman.
He says that since launching the App Store in 2008, the tech giant hasn’t allowed users to replace pre-installed apps with third-party services. On one hand, the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) can’t imagine Apple can’t this policy.
On the other hand, as Gurman points out, the current policy makes it difficult for some competitors to compete and has raised concerns from lawmakers probing potential antitrust violations in the the industry. Apple might loosen its rules to avoid being labeled a monopoly.
