[Technology]
Dutch regulators have ordered changes to the App Store, the number of apps in China has declined, and a new $ 1 million publisher in 2021 – TechCrunch
Welcome to this week’s app. [Weekly TechCrunch Series](//techcrunch.com/tag/this-week-in-apps/) It summarizes the latest mobile OS news, mobile applications, and the overall app economy.
The app industry continues to grow and [record](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/07/app-stores-to-see-record-consumer-spend-of-133-billion-in-2021-143-6-billion-new-app-installs/) Combined downloads and personal consumption in both the iOS and Google Play stores in 2021 [latest](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/07/app-stores-to-see-record-consumer-spend-of-133-billion-in-2021-143-6-billion-new-app-installs/) Year-end [Report](//www.appannie.com/en/insights/market-data/2021-end-year-mobile-apps-recap/) .. Global spending on iOS and Google Play as a whole will reach up to $ 135 billion in 2021, according to App Annie, when an annual report containing third-party app stores in China is released next year. Can be even higher. Consumers have also found that they have downloaded more than 10 billion more apps this year than in 2020, with new installs reaching nearly 140 billion.
The app is not only a way to spend idle time, it’s also a big company. In 2019, mobile first companies [Join](//techcrunch.com/2020/01/15/app-stores-saw-record-204-billion-app-downloads-in-2019-consumer-spend-of-120-billion/) The $ 544 billion valuation is 6.5 times higher than if you weren’t focused on mobile. 2020, investors [Pour](//techcrunch.com/2021/01/13/app-stores-saw-record-218-billion-downloads-in-2020-consumer-spend-of-143-billion/) Capitalized in mobile companies was $ 73 billion, an increase of 27% year-on-year.
This week’s app provides a way to keep up with this fast-moving industry in one place with the latest information from the app world, including news, updates, startup funding, mergers and acquisitions, suggestions for new apps and games to try. increase. that too.
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This week’s app is on vacation during the holidays, so this week’s updates are shorter than usual!
Over 900 app publishers will see the first $ 1 million in 2021
The sensor tower [predict](//sensortower.com/blog/million-dollar-publishers-2021) The number of publishers expected to generate the first $ 1 million (or more) annual net revenue in 2021 has nearly doubled since 2016. This year, more than 900 publishers reach this milestone, up nearly 91% from 475 publishers. 2016 milestone. These 900 and above are classified as 581 on iOS and 325 on Google Play.
However, this figure represents a decline from last year when 1,003 publishers reached their first net $ 1 million in global revenue. This is a change in which sensor towers will lead to normalization of consumer behavior after the pandemic pushes installations to a large level in 2020. According to the report, consumers in 2021 tried fewer new apps than they did during the pandemic.
Chinese law affects the number of apps available
The [South China Morning Post](//www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3160457/chinas-big-tech-crackdown-number-apps-falls-40-cent-over-three) This week we reported on how China’s Big Tech crackdown is taking place across China’s app stores. According to the survey results, the number of mobile apps available has decreased by 40% over the last three years due to new data laws and other cleanup campaigns. In numbers, the Chinese app store had 4.52 million apps in December 2018, but as of October 2021, it had dropped to just 2.78 million. He also noted that Beijing’s new data privacy law cracked down on Big Tech, resulting in the biggest decline this year.
The Netherlands has ordered Apple to allow dating apps to offer alternative payments
The Netherlands is the latest country trying to regulate the App Store with a new ruling, as reported below. [Reuters](//www.reuters.com/technology/apples-app-store-broke-competition-laws-dutch-watchdog-says-2021-12-24/) That means Apple violates national competition law through its in-app purchase policy. However, this market case is unique because it applies only to parts of the app store, specifically dating apps. (Of course, Match is an important critic of Apple and is pushing for new payment policies both in the US and abroad.) According to the Dutch Consumer Markets Authority (ACM), Apple will be by January 15th. You need to implement the AppStore. change. If the company does not comply, it could be fined up to € 50 million ($ 56.6 million), the report said. Apple has appealed the ruling.
Platform: Apple
- Unidentified leak by [French site] Claim iOS 16 iPhone 6s and 6s Plus and iPhone SE 2016 are not supported.
- Apple [Stop signing] iOS 15.1.1That is, there are no downgrade options currently available.
Platform: Google
- [announcement] The number of users using Android apps on Chrome OS devices increased by 50% year-on-year in 2021., Chrome OS has grown over 92% year-on-year.
- Amazon [Finally fixed the broken Amazon Appstore] On Android 12 devices This has prevented users from using the app (or apps installed through the app) for more than a month.
- Google Play store [Add filter] You can refine your search on your device, Android TV, Wear OS, etc.
Social
- A [2022 Forecast Notes] TikTok is the third largest social network in the world, with 755 million monthly users next year. This quote is from Insider Intelligence (formerly eMarketer). This intelligence uses a unique system to count MAUs and eliminate fake accounts while being more consistent across enterprises.
- Ticktaku [start up] March nationwide delivery-only restaurant business to promote some of the app’s most viral dishesPosted by influencers and creators on TikTok. The company says it will not enter the food business itself, but has partnered with Virtual Dining Concepts and Grubhub for TikTok kitchen promotion.
Messaging
- Facebook messenger [Expand holiday functions] , Including new AR effects From beauty influencers like Brettman Rock and Ashley Strong. In addition, holiday-themed word effects. New Year’s Eve chat theme. Various seasonal sound characters, backgrounds and “gift wrapping” of Messenger using Android Facebook Pay. Messenger Kids launches Santa Chat experience and other games and AR effects.
- WhatsApp is testing new interfaces for voice calls and other features on iOS and Android. site [WABetaInfo] I found a new interface under development. It provides some UI tweaks and new indicators for end-to-end encryption.
Streaming & Entertainment
- TikTok [Accused of violating] An open source license for the new LiveStudio Windows app. This app is alleged to use the OBS Studio app from the Open Broadcaster Software project and other open source project code without complying with the license terms.
- The Verge [I want to know] What happened to Spotify HiFi? A high-end version of the streaming service was planned to be rolled out this year, but it wasn’t. What do you get?
Government and policy
? Zepto, a 10-minute grocery delivery app that works in India [Raise $ 100 Million](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/zepto-a-10-minute-grocery-delivery-app-in-india-raises-100-million/) Series C Financing, Y Combinator’s continuation fund led. The round has more than doubled the app’s valuation from $ 225 million in less than two months to $ 570 million.
Rocket company, rocket mortgage maker, [Acquired Truebill](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/rocket-companies-buys-truebill-for-1-275b/) Personal finance app This helps consumers manage their invoices, subscriptions, and budgets. The deal was $ 1.275 billion, up from Truebill’s final personal valuation of $ 530 million. [Round](//techcrunch.com/2021/06/01/truebill-raises-45-million-for-its-personal-finance-app/) ..
? Amsterdam-based tennis and padel court booking app Playtomic [Raised 56 million euros](//www.eu-startups.com/2021/12/madrid-based-playtomic-smashes-series-c-funding-with-a-e56-million-raise-for-its-tennis-and-padel-app/) Series C Financing After the number of monthly reservations exceeded 1 million in November 2021, GP Bullhound took the lead and tripled the number of reservations from a year ago. The app reaches over 1 million users in 34 countries.
? Taptap Send [Raised $ 65 million](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/taptap-send-raises-65m-to-build-cross-border-remittances-focused-on-the-most-underserved-markets/) Series B funding led by Spark Capital to further grow cross-border money transfer appsCurrently, it covers 20 countries, including developing markets.
? Lapse, an app like Dispo that allows users to take pictures that “develop” after 24 hours [Raise $ 11 Million](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/lapse-an-app-that-lets-you-snap-and-develop-rolls-of-film-with-groups-of-friends-raises-11m-from-gv-and-others/) With seed funds Led by Octopus Ventures and GV.
? Game company Rec Room [Raised $ 145 Million](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/rec-room-raises-145m-at-a-3-5b-valuation-for-its-user-generated-immersive-gaming-platform/) A cross-platform game run on mobile, PC, game consoles and VR headsets, funded by Coatue Management. The company has increased its user base from 2 million in March to 37 million now, worth $ 3.5 billion.
Spotify [Won](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/16/spotify-acquires-podcast-tech-company-whooshkaa-which-turns-radio-broadcasts-into-on-demand-audio/) Whooshkaa, a podcast technology company that turns radio programs into on-demand podcasts. This technology integrates with Spotify’s megaphone.
? Vietnam-based MoMo, a super app that provides money transfers, insurance, investments, donations and more [Raise $ 200 Million](//www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-21/mizuho-invests-in-vietnam-s-momo-driving-its-value-to-2-billion) Series E Financing Led by Mizhuo Bank. The round values the business over $ 200 million.
? Stockholm-based Voi, an app that offers e-scooter and e-bike rentals, [Raised $ 115 Million](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/2250109/) Series D Financing Led by Raine Group and VNV Global. With scooters in 80 European cities, the company will then begin preparing for an IPO.
? Triller, a former TikTok rival turned into a live event app [Announced plans to merge](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/22/tiktok-rival-triller-to-go-public-via-merger-with-seachange-international/) With ad tech company SeaChange Publish two companies with a valuation of about $ 5 billion.
? Indian e-commerce startup Snapdeal [Apply for an IPO](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/20/snapdeal-ipo/) It is about to raise $ 165 million. The 11-year-old company, which serves online and via apps, competes with Amazon and Flipkart in India and has recently shifted its focus to serving consumers in small towns and cities.
Wonbo Dream
Known for the latest AI-based lip-sync app, Wombo. [dreams](//www.wombo.art/) Is using AI to create art. (read [Click here for a TechCrunch review by Natasha Lomas](//techcrunch.com/2021/12/23/wombo-dream-app/) ). To use the app, enter what you want to create a photo for, then choose a style such as vibrant pastel, dark fantasy, or steampunk. Dream takes a few seconds to create the finished work. Better than others. You can repeat this process until you get the results you want. The app has already seen over 10 million user-created images and has been downloaded over 1 million times in total. [iOS](//apps.apple.com/in/app/wombo-dream/id1586366816) When [Android](//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.womboai.wombodream) ..
https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/27/this-week-in-apps-dutch-regulator-orders-app-store-changes-chinas-app-numbers-decline-2021s-new-million-dollar-publishers/ Dutch regulators have ordered changes to the App Store, the number of apps in China has declined, and a new $ 1 million publisher in 2021 – TechCrunch

Dutch regulators have ordered changes to the App Store, the number of apps in China has declined, and a new $ 1 million publisher in 2021 – TechCrunch comes via ChinaTechNews.com.