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EU Opens New Horizons For App Innovation Under Digital Markets Act

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 23, 2026

The European Union’s Digital Markets Act is reshaping the app distribution landscape. The new regulation allows alternative app stores on Apple devices, fostering competition and empowering developers to explore innovative distribution channels outside the traditional App Store model.

Digital Markets Act Revolutionizes App Distribution

Under the DMA, developers in the EU can distribute apps through third-party marketplaces that comply with Apple’s notarization requirements, which focus on baseline platform security such as malware protection. These marketplaces operate independently from Apple’s centralized App Review system and manage their own policies, customer support, and refund processes.

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New Financial And Operational Terms

Developers using alternative marketplaces must accept Apple’s DMA business terms, including a Core Technology Fee of €0.50 per first annual install. The fee applies regardless of whether an app reaches one million installs. Despite these additional costs, some developers have already adopted alternative distribution channels.

Global Ripple Effects In App Markets

Regulatory changes in the EU are influencing other markets. In Japan, Apple’s compliance with the Mobile Software Competition Act has similarly expanded options for app distribution and external payment processing under revised commission structures and fees.

Spotlight On Leading Alternative App Stores

AltStore Pal (EU)

Co-created by Riley Testut, developer of the famed Nintendo game emulator app Delta, AltStore Pal is an officially sanctioned alternative marketplace in the EU. As an open source platform, it allows independent developers to self-host their apps. Applications are distributed by creating alternative distribution packets that users add manually, ensuring that the marketplace remains curated and secure.

Setapp Mobile (EU – Closed Feb. 2026)

MacPaw launched Setapp Mobile as one of the first alternative app stores under Apple’s DMA framework. The service closed in February 2026 after business conditions changed, but it introduced a subscription-based model focused on ad-free apps.

Epic Games Store (EU)

Epic Games, the force behind Fortnite, expanded its distribution strategy by launching an alternative iOS app store in the EU as early as August 2024. The move marked a significant pivot in a long-standing dispute with Apple, capitalizing on regulatory changes to reclaim market presence and offer gamers and developers a fresh alternative.

Aptoide (EU)

Renowned for its alternative approach on Android, Lisbon-based Aptoide has extended its open source app distribution model to iOS in the EU. The platform scans apps for safety compliance and operates on a commission-based revenue model for in-app purchases, reinforcing its position as a secure and innovative marketplace.

Mobivention Marketplace (EU)

Designed for business use, the Mobivention marketplace caters to companies looking to distribute internal apps securely. The platform offers customizable solutions that enable firms to create private app ecosystems, ensuring that proprietary applications remain outside the public App Store while maintaining high security standards.

Skich (EU)

Skich introduces a novel approach to app discovery with its Tinder-like interface that lets users swipe to find apps that match their interests. This interactive experience, paired with social features such as playlist creation and friend activity tracking, positions Skich as a disruptive force in the mobile app marketplace—a strategy actively promoted at events like the Game Developers Conference (GDC).

Onside (EU And Japan)

Operating in both the EU and Japan, Onside offers a competitive alternative by charging lower fees while ensuring robust security measures, including protection of payment details. Currently supporting bank card payments and Apple Pay, Onside plans to expand its payment methods further, appealing to developers and users seeking a transparent and user-friendly app store experience.

Conclusion

The emergence of alternative app stores under the DMA is expanding distribution models and increasing competition in the app marketplace. Developers now have additional options for reaching users outside Apple’s traditional ecosystem.

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SpaceX Signs Compute Agreement With Google Ahead Of Planned IPO

SpaceX And Google Forge A Major Compute Partnership

SpaceX has announced a compute agreement with Google ahead of its planned initial public offering. According to a regulatory filing, Google will pay SpaceX $920 million per month from October 2026 through June 2029 in exchange for access to approximately 110,000 NVIDIA GPUs, CPUs, memory and related computing infrastructure.

Drawing Comparisons With Anthropic’s Agreement

The agreement follows a similar deal announced in May with Anthropic, which committed to paying $1.25 billion per month through 2029 for access to compute capacity at SpaceX’s Colossus 1 data centre near Memphis, Tennessee.

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Based on the disclosed figures, Google’s allocation appears to be smaller than the capacity assigned to Anthropic. SpaceX has not identified which facility will support Google’s workloads, although CEO Elon Musk previously stated that Colossus 2 would be reserved for xAI.

Meeting Surging Demand In AI Innovation

Google’s move comes at a time when the company is experiencing unexpected demand for its cutting-edge AI products. A Google representative emphasized that, citing the strong performance of the newly launched Gemini Enterprise platform, this strategic, short-term agreement is designed to bridge capacity gaps. With Google frequently recognized as one of the largest single owners of AI compute resources, the robust design of this deal underlines the intensifying competition in the technology sector.

Financial Implications And Future Prospects

The announcement comes as SpaceX prepares for its expected Nasdaq debut. According to preliminary SEC filings, the company plans to raise approximately $75 billion at a valuation of around $1.75 trillion. At the same time, Alphabet has continued to expand its investment programme, authorising more than $180 billion in capital expenditures and announcing plans for an $80 billion equity offering.

Terms And Conditions Of The Agreement

The contract includes a termination clause allowing either party to cancel the agreement with 90 days’ notice after December 31, 2026. Google’s access to the designated computing infrastructure is expected to increase gradually through September at a reduced rate. If SpaceX fails to provide the agreed number of GPUs by September 30, 2026, Google may terminate the contract after a one-month grace period or accept a reduced allocation at a lower monthly cost.

A Strategic Partnership With Longstanding Ties

The agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two companies. Google is already an investor in SpaceX and, according to Bloomberg, its stake could be worth more than $100 billion following the IPO. Reports also indicate that discussions between the companies are continuing around potential orbital data centre projects, which form part of SpaceX’s broader long-term strategy.