As part of a larger story about Apple's plans to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone and iPad in EU countries, Mark Gurman claimed that Apple is also considering removing its requirement for iPhone and iPad web browsers to use WebKit.
The EU's Digital Markets Act may have led to the change. If Apple dropped the requirement in other regions, it was not clear.
According to Gurman, third-party web browsers are required to use Apple's Safari browsing engine. Apple may remove the mandate under the plan to meet the new law.
Gurman did not provide any additional details or a potential time frame for Apple to drop this requirement, but the move would allow for web browsers and in-app browsers on the iPhone and iPad. The browsers would no longer be tied to the development schedule.
Due to the fact that all of the popular web browsers are forced to use WebKit on the iPad, there is little difference between the two browsers. Some find the policy anti-competitive due to security and privacy considerations.
A group of software engineers from the UK and other countries urged Apple to remove the limitation on non-WebKit browsers in the mobile operating system. There are a number of features unavailable to third-party web browsers on Apple's mobile device operating system.
According to Gurman's report, Apple is working to provide third-party apps with limited access to the phone's Near Field Communication chip, but he did not give any further details.
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