• The UK’s competition watchdog says mobile browser markets “not working well for UK businesses.”
• Apple and Google restrict innovative technology.
• Provisional findings give Apple a pass on mobile cloud gaming.

An independent enquiry group set up by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its provisional conclusions on the activities of Apple and Google in the mobile ecosystem, concluding that:

• Both companies manipulate users’ choice of web browser,
• Google and Apple collude financially to reduce competition in browser choice and search,
• Progressive web apps’ use is hampered on iOS devices,
• Apple’s changed policies on mobile cloud gaming are positive.

Choice of browser

The provisional conclusions of the CMA say that both companies are in a position to be able to present their own browsers (Safari in the case of Apple iOS, Chrome on Android devices with Google services pre-installed) as the clearest or easiest option to use as default.

Apple only allows its own browser engine (WebKit) to be the basis of any web browser on its iOS devices, meaning that Firefox (which uses the Gecko engine) and Chrome (the Blink engine) on the platform are essentially re-skinned versions of Safari, unable to use Safari or native extensions. An exception to this rule is in the EU, where since iOS 17.4 was released, citizens have been able to install ‘real,’ (fully-featured and based on non-WebKit engines) browsers from other providers.

Financial arrangements

Google reputedly pays Apple $20 billion per year to ensure that Apple products have Google Search set as the default search engine. That sum is part of total payments Google makes to third parties, including Mozilla – the company behind the Firefox browser – that ensures users’ searches are executed by Google Search. Other companies in receipt of similar payments include Samsung, LG, Motorola, T-Mobile and AT&T.

Hampered PWAs

Progressive web apps (PWAs) allow developers to create applications that run independently of operating system, meaning that developing PWAs is significantly cheaper for companies that otherwise would have to rewrite their code for each platform. Such apps are also a way of developers releasing software outside the Apple App Store and so avoid the so-called ‘Apple tax’ which levies 30% of any monies charged by the developer on the price of an app, and any in-app purchases.

Although the initial vision for applications on the then-newly-released iPhone was for them to be web technology-based, Apple soon transitioned to an App Store-centric model. According the the CMA’s Summary of Provisional Decision document [PDF], “Apple’s rules mean that PWAs on iOS do not perform optimally and have limited features, which in turn means developers are less able to offer sufficiently high-quality web apps.”

Cloud gaming

The provisional findings of the CMA’s independent enquiry group acknowledged that Apple has made some progress with regards concerns the CMA received around mobile cloud gaming. Previously, cloud gaming apps were not available on the App Store, but Apple now allows such games to be sold through its Store. On that front, the CMA’s group stated, “there is no need for intervention.”

Feedback interval

The CMA’s full report is due to appear at the end of Q1, 2025, after a short pause when it will receive comments on its initial conclusions. The UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act was passed into law in May 2024, granting the CMA responsibility to promote competition in digital markets, and impose legally binding ‘conduct requirements’ and/or enact ‘pro-competition interventions’ on companies.

It’s possible, therefore, that Apple will make the UK subject to the same changes to its practices as already apply to in the rest of Europe.