Progress made - but challenges persist

The fact is that the current landscape remains imbalanced. Apple's proposed changes under the DMA appear to be more about preserving its dominance than promoting genuine competition. They are more self-serving than pro-competitive. The introduction of a new Core Technology Fee (CTF) acts as an inadmissible barrier, while restrictive terms limit developers' ability to access alternative solutions. Additionally, the needlessly complex installation process for non-Apple apps discourages users from exploring outside of Apple's ecosystem.This means that Apple continues to favor its own market-place at the expense of competitors. The CTF disproportionately impacts alternative stores more than individual developers. Misleading warnings during the checkout process deter users from using competitors' payment systems, and there are serious concerns that Apple may retain data from transactions involving competitors.