The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will host a workshop for app developers on 24 March 2025 as part of its ongoing investigation into Apple’s and Google’s mobile ecosystems. The event, taking place in London, aims to gather insights from app developers on innovation, investment, and potential barriers in the industry.

Specifically the CMA has stated that the workshop will allow stakeholders to express their opinions on:

• Key drivers for innovation and investment in app development in the UK.
• Current barriers to developing new apps or app features for use on mobile devices.
• What measures may be needed to overcome these barriers.

The event is open to app developers with an app on a UK app store, and interested parties must register by 14 March 2025.

This initiative is part of the CMA’s broader investigation into whether Apple and Google hold strategic market status (SMS) in their provision of mobile ecosystem services, such as operating systems, app stores, and mobile browsers. The regulator is broadly assessing whether the dominance of these platforms is restricting competition and what regulatory interventions may be necessary to promote fair competition and innovation. See our previous update here.

A summary of the workshop will be published on the CMA’s case pages, though participant identities will remain confidential. For those interested, you can register here.