I think that it is again a discrete anti competitive move by Google. Recent european regulations protected the right for publisher to distribute through any marketplace their apps for Apple and Android devices.
But it looks like that they have found the loophole of this with the fact that the regulation does not entitle the user to install apps through any mean that they would like.
My guess is that android was not really afraid of third party app store until then, but now that apple devices will have to be open to other store, there is the possibility that another store editor become major but being unique to Apple and Android devices. Let's imagine the "Microsoft app store for mobile devices" for example.
I think that it is again a discrete anti competitive move by Google. Recent european regulations protected the right for publisher to distribute through any marketplace their apps for Apple and Android devices.
But it looks like that they have found the loophole of this with the fact that the regulation does not entitle the user to install apps through any mean that they would like.
My guess is that android was not really afraid of third party app store until then, but now that apple devices will have to be open to other store, there is the possibility that another store editor become major but being unique to Apple and Android devices. Let's imagine the "Microsoft app store for mobile devices" for example.