Apple Likely To Oppose Sanchar Saathi Pre-Install Mandate, Other Companies In Review Mode

Apple is likely to oppose the mandate from the Centre to pre-install the state-owned Sanchar Saathi app, and has sought a meeting with the Department of Telecommunications for discussions, sources told NDTV Profit.

The US-based big-tech firm shared its concerns around privacy and excessive data permissions leading to its hesitation in following the order from the centre.

• 
  NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term
• 
  Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani
• 
  'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps
• 
  India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers
• 
  'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax
• 
  Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite
• 
  Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness
• 
  CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE
• 
  Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI
• 
  "I Am A Material Man In A Material World': Quantum Advisors' Ajit Dayal On NDTV Profit Ignite

Samsung and others telecom firms are still reviewing the order and haven't conveyed an official stance to the government yet.

Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay

Apple's initial opposition to the mandatory pre-installation of apps is also centered around additional costs related to research, according to the persons privy to the matter.

Clarity on the stance by the broader smartphone industry is likely to emerge in a few days.

For almost two decades, Apple has prided itself due to its 'walled garden' ecosystem in the iPhone, which promotes safety, security and privacy.

But complying with the fresh directives from the Department of Telecommunications - which includes pre-installing the app on every smartphone that is being manufactured and keeping it enabled at all times - is likely to have Apple break away from those core philosophies.

Historically, Apple has always been unappreciative towards pre-installed software, which is often derided as bloatware. Since iOS 10, the company has even allowed its users to delete its own pre-installed apps, such as calculator, Garageband, among others.

This is in sharp contrast to Android phones, where manufacturers and carriers have the liberty to load the device with their personalised set of third-party apps, whereas Apple prefers a clean, standardised set of Apple proprietary software.

Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.