14 DAY TRIAL // The next major iPhone update, likely to be called iOS 14, is projected to go live in the fall, with a preview version to be presented by Apple at the WWDC in the summer.
One of the new features that the Cupertino-based tech giant is reportedly looking into would allow users to change the default apps on an iPhone, including browsers, email clients, and others.
A report from Bloomberg says the Apple leadership team is yet to make a final decision on this, but they’re currently discussing such features. If the plan gets the go-ahead, iOS 14 could be the first iOS version in history allowing users to change the default apps.
Google and Microsoft apps on iOS
Apple allowing users to change the default apps on an iPhone is good news for both Google and Microsoft, as apps developed by the two are very popular on iOS.
For example, Google Chrome is one of the leading mobile browsers, so by allowing users to replace Safari with it would make it easier for Google to compete against Apple on its own playground. The same for Microsoft, as the software giant has not only a browser, but several other popular iPhone apps that could end up being used as defaults on iOS.
One of them is Outlook, which is often referred to as the most popular email app for iPhone. Outlook could replace Mail as the default email client on an iPhone if the plan is approved.
Apple, however, seems to be taking its time to analyze every little detail of such a move. It goes without saying that allowing users to set app defaults could have an impact on its own apps, so Cupertino needs to find a way to do this without risking this decision to backfire.