51茶馆

Proposed decision听

23 July 2025: The CMA is consulting on its proposed decision to designate Apple as having strategic market status (SMS) in respect of its mobile platform, comprising its mobile operating systems, native app distribution and mobile browser and browser engine.听

• (23.7.25)
• (23.7.25)
• (23.7.25)
• (23.7.25)
• (23.7.25)
• (23.7.25)
• (23.7.25)
• Press release: CMA proposes action to drive more competition on mobile platforms (23.7.25)

We will publish non-confidential responses in due course.

Roadmap of possible measures to improve competition in respect of Apple鈥檚 mobile platform

23 July 2025: The CMA has today published its roadmap for possible interventions in respect of Apple鈥檚 mobile platform. The roadmap sets out how we intend to prioritise our work on potential conduct requirements and pro-competition interventions, should Apple be designated as having SMS.

• (23.7.25)

If you would like to share your views on how we鈥檝e prioritised interventions in the roadmap, submit them to mobilesms@cma.gov.uk. We will also continue to engage with stakeholders between now and updating the roadmap in the first half of 2026.

App developer workshop

24 March 2025: As part of its SMS investigations into Apple鈥檚 and Google鈥檚 mobile platform, the CMA held a workshop for app developers to express their views on:

• the key drivers for innovation and investment in app development in the UK
• any current barriers to developing new apps or app features for use on mobile devices
• what measures may be needed to overcome such barriers

9 May 2025: A summary of the workshop was published.

• (9.5.25)

Invitation to comment: closed

7 March 2025: The invitation to comment closed on 12 February. Non-confidential submissions are published on the consultation page.

Responses: SMS investigation into Apple鈥檚 and Google鈥檚 mobile ecosystems

23 January 2025: To assist with its SMS investigation, the CMA published an invitation to comment (ITC) setting out the scope of its investigations covering mobile platform, the main avenues of investigation and the potential interventions we are currently considering. We invited submissions from interested parties on these issues as set out in the ITC.

• (23.1.25)
• Consultation:

Invitation to comment on consumer survey

24 January 2025: An ITC on a proposed consumer survey in this investigation was published. Interested parties had an opportunity to comment on the proposed methodology and draft questionnaire.

• (24.01.25)
• (24.01.25)

Case information

23 January 2025: The CMA launched an 鈥榠nitial SMS investigation鈥� under Part 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024.

The CMA is investigating whether to designate Apple as having SMS in the provision of its mobile platform, including its:

• mobile operating system 鈥� which on Apple devices is iOS and iPadOS
• native app distribution 鈥� which on Apple devices is through the App Store
• mobile browser and browser engine 鈥� which for Apple is Safari and WebKit respectively

(The precise descriptions of the digital activities we are investigating are set out in the Investigation Notice).

Launch of SMS investigation:

• (23.1.25)
• Press release: CMA to investigate Apple and Google鈥檚 mobile ecosystems (23.1.25)

Indicative timetable

The table below sets out an indicative timetable for the SMS investigation.

On 10 March 2025, CMA Chief Executive, Sarah Cardell delivered a speech at the techUK Tech Policy Conference 2025 in which she set out that a new step would be incorporated into the CMA鈥檚 designation investigations 鈥� an initial 鈥榬oadmap鈥� for possible future interventions if a firm were to be designated with SMS.

The roadmap provides clarity on which issues are likely to be prioritised for earlier action, which the CMA proposes to deprioritise, and which remain subject to further consideration. For the SMS Mobile investigation into Apple, this roadmap document was published alongside the consultation on the proposed decision on SMS designation on 23 July 2025.

It should be noted that the DMCC Act allows the CMA to consult on proposed conduct requirements (CRs) at the same time as consulting on any proposed decision on whether to designate a firm with SMS. However, CRs may be imposed at any point after a firm is designated.

The dates set out below are indicative only and represent our current expectations and estimates for different phases in the investigation and may be subject to change.

This timetable will be updated as necessary throughout the investigation if there are changes to these timings.

As set out in the roadmap we expect to begin consulting on initial CRs from autumn 2025 and will provide updated timings for this process in due course. These are therefore not included below.

Stage 1: Commencement of the SMS investigation and consideration of potential measures

Timing	Milestone	Engagement
23 January 2025	SMS investigation launch	听
23 January 2025	SMS investigation notice sent to Apple and published on CMA website	Apple invited to attend introductory meetings with CMA investigation team
23 January 2025	Invitation to Comment published	Apple and third parties respond to ITC
24 January 2025	Invitation to Comment on consumer survey published	听
28 January 2025	Invitation to Comment on consumer survey closes	听
January to March 2025	Initial evidence gathering and engagement with Apple and third parties in relation to SMS investigation and potential measures - this will include the CMA sending information notices and engaging with stakeholders through surveys, calls, meetings and workshops	Apple and other key market participants respond to information notices. Bilateral meetings and roundtables with stakeholders
12 February 2025	Invitation to Comment closes	听
Early March 2025	Publication of non-confidential responses to Invitation to Comment	听
March to April 2025	Further engagement with Apple and other key stakeholders in relation to SMS investigation and development of potential measures	Further engagement could include, for example, forums such as roundtables and workshops

Stage 2: Preparation and publication of proposed decision on whether to designate Apple with SMS and publication of initial roadmap for possible future measures

Timing	Milestone	Engagement
April to May 2025	Further evidence gathering and analysis	This may include Apple and other key market participants responding to further CMA information notices
June 2025	鈥橮ut back鈥� process with Apple and other parties on potentially confidential material within proposed decision on SMS designation and initial roadmap for possible future interventions. Continued engagement with stakeholders on development of potential measures.	The CMA will share put back extracts with Apple and third parties for comment
23 July 2025	Consultation on proposed decision on SMS designation and publication of initial roadmap for possible future measures if Apple were to be designated with SMS. Continued engagement with stakeholders on development of potential measures.	Apple and third parties respond to consultation
20 August 2025	Consultation on proposed decision on SMS designation and initial roadmap for possible future measures closes. Continued engagement with stakeholders on development of potential measures.	听

Stage 3: After consultation on proposed decision and initial roadmap of possible measures

Timing	Milestone	Engagement
August to September 2025	Opportunity for Apple to make oral representations on proposed decisions on SMS designation	Apple may provide oral representations on the proposed decision to decision makers
August to September 2025	Analysis of responses to consultation on proposed decision on SMS designation and initial roadmap for possible future measures.	听
August to September 2025	Further evidence gathering and engagement with Apple and other parties, as necessary	The CMA may issue further information notices or arrange further calls and meetings
September 2025	If necessary put back process with Apple and other parties on potentially confidential material within SMS Decision	The CMA may share further put back extracts with Apple and third parties for comment
22 October 2025	Statutory deadline for issue of SMS Decision Notice.	听

Decision makers

The Digital Markets Board Committee (DMBC) oversees and takes certain delegated decisions under the DMCC Act 2024.

Sub-committees of the DMBC have been established under the DMBC to oversee and take certain decisions in specific SMS investigations, in accordance with their terms of reference.

The members for this investigation are:

• Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive, CMA
• Martin Coleman, Non-Executive Director and Panel Chair
• Margot Daly, Inquiry Chair
• Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets, CMA
• Dharmash Mistry, Non- Executive Director

Contact

Please direct all correspondence or questions in relation to this investigation to: mobilesms@cma.gov.uk