Japan's FTC recommends Apple, Google include third-party app stores
Wachiwit

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) dominate the mobile app market, Japan's Fair Trade Commission said on Thursday, while recommending a host of changes, including opening up third-party app stores.
In publishing its Market Study Report on Mobile OS and Mobile App Distribution, the JFTC suggested several changes for the two tech titans, including allowing third-party app stores, as well as letting developers offering their own in-app payment payment systems or the ability to use third-party ones.
Android already allows third-party app stores, a process also known as side-loading, but it is widely believed to not be popular with consumers.
The JFTC also said that third-party apps should be able to get the same access to features from the respective operating systems, iOS and Android, as apps from Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) already do.
The agency added that Apple (AAPL) and Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) apps should only be allowed to collect data that third-party apps can collect, as well as letting consumers choose between standard and third-party apps during the setup of the device.
The recommendation of the third-party app store from Japan's FTC comes as Apple (AAPL) is facing a similar situation in Europe as a result of the continent's Digital Markets Act, which goes into effect in 2024.
For years, Apple (AAPL) has defended its App Store and rallied against allowing third-party app stores for a number of reasons, including safety and malware.
In late December, Morgan Stanley said that allowing Apple (AAPL) third-party is "more bark than bite."
On Thursday, Bank of America said Apple's (AAPL) App Store is seeing "muted" growth in its fiscal second-quarter.