Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 could potentially impact an estimated $393 million in-app revenue, according to an analysis by app intelligence firm Appfigures. The new operating system, set to release later this fall, may affect apps that have been downloaded approximately 58 million times over the past year.
The term “sherlocking” is used to describe Apple’s practice of integrating features previously available only through third-party apps into its own software and operating systems. This practice has raised questions about whether Apple is leveraging proprietary data to decide what to build next and whether the apps it competes with are being offered a level playing field.
In recent years, Apple has “sherlocked” third parties with launches of features like Continuity Camera, medication tracking, sleep tracking, and mood tracking, as well as apps like Freeform and Journal. This year, it turned its attention to password managers, call recording and transcription apps, custom emoji makers, AI-powered writing tools, math helpers, trail apps, and more.
The trail app category, led by market leader and 2023 Apple “App of the Year” AllTrails, generated the most income at $307 million per year. Grammar helper apps, like Grammarly and others, also generated $35.7 million, while math helpers and password managers earned $23.4 million and $20.3 million, respectively.
With the release of iOS 18, these categories could find themselves in Apple’s crosshairs, potentially impacting their revenue and market presence. This development underscores the ongoing debate about the balance between innovation and competition in the era of tech giants.
Read more: techcrunch.com