Tech

Apple tests how to geo-lock features

At Apple they know well that offering devices and services globally It’s not as simple as it might seem at first.. The main reason for this has to do, of course, with regulations, since each market is different, and things that are allowed without problems in certain markets are prohibited in others. The clearest example of this is found in FaceTime, Apple’s popular video calling service, which is banned in the United Arab Emirates. Thus, the options are either to find a solution to adapt to said limitations, or to give up its presence in said markets.

The case of FaceTime is peculiar, but we also find others in which the regulations do not go against the free choice of users, but of the company’s own interests. In this case, the closest example is found in third-party stores and sideloading, something that Apple has always flatly refused to allow in the iPhone ecosystem, but for legal reasons it will soon have to accept in Europe.

Thus, as we told you a few days ago, Apple intends that sideloading in iOS 17, which at first seemed to be global, finally only reaches Europe. Of course, we must bear in mind that this news precedes the court ruling on the appeals in the case between Apple and Epic Games, a new ruling that confirms that those from Cupertino must take firm steps to open the doors of iOS to other stores and other means of payment. However, Apple has already confirmed its intention to appeal again, so it seems likely that these measures will still take some time to reach the United States.

Apple tests how to geo-lock features

Currently, geographic limitations are set by tying the hardware to a particular region, allowing you to bypass them by getting an iPhone in another region. However, as they have discovered in 9to5Mac this may be about to change, because Apple is already testing a new feature geo-blocking system in iOS 16. Yes, you have read correctly, it is not something that is going to be tested in the future version of the operating system, but it is already present in the current one, so we can understand that tests have already been carried out in this regard.

This new system is identified in iOS 16.2 as “countryd” and, to determine the user’s location, it combines multiple data, such as the current GPS location, he WiFi router country code and the information obtained from the SIM card. Thus, it seems that it will be able to determine the region in which the user is located with a fairly high level of precision, even if an attempt is made to introduce erroneous information through any of said means.

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