The UK government today announced that the Competition and Markets Authority has launched strategic market status investigations into mobile ecosystems, specifically the App Store models of iPhone and Android. The report says it will assess Apples market power, and potential exploitative conduct. This includes options for app distribution to customers, and the terms app developers must agree to to be listed in the App Store in the first place. In summary, this sounds like the UK equivalent of the EUs various enforcements under the umbrella of the Digital Markets Act.The UK investigations include evaluating the amount of competition between the Apple and Google ecosystems, including barriers to entry of rival services. They will also assess whether Apple and Google are abusing their market power of the monopolies of their mobile operating systems, such as what apps are pre-installed on the device and alternative browser choices. It is also assessing the terms that app developers are required to meet in order to be available on the App Store. The deadline for the investigations into both Apple and Googles App Store models is 22nd October 2025, so we have to wait until closer to the end of the year for the results of their findings. Remedies can include fines and interventions of business behavior. In the EU, this saw Apple forced to add support for third-party app marketplaces, web distribution of apps, browser choice screens and other changes. However, they also introduced alternative business terms and fee structures at the same time, which developers like Epic Games and Spotify protest are still unfair. The EU case is ongoing, but you can imagine that Apple will be inclined to try similar strategies in response to the UK Competition and Markets Authority.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel