AltStore Expands Its iPhone App Store to More Countries
▼ Summary
– AltStore PAL is expanding beyond the EU to Japan, Brazil, and Australia by year-end, with the UK following in 2026.
– The expansion responds to high user demand, but exact timing depends on further details from Apple.
– AltStore is integrating with the fediverse using ActivityPub to federate apps, updates, and news alerts across open social platforms.
– Users will be able to interact with AltStore content on platforms like Mastodon and Threads, with interactions appearing natively in the app.
– A $6 million investment from Pace Capital will support hiring, fediverse integration, and global expansion, with new board members joining.
AltStore PAL, a pioneering alternative iOS app marketplace, is extending its reach beyond the European Union to new international territories. Developer Riley Testut confirmed today that the platform will debut in Japan, Brazil, and Australia before this year concludes, with a United Kingdom launch scheduled for 2026. Testut noted that expanding to additional countries represents the single most frequent user request, though the team awaits further details from Apple regarding precise launch dates.
In a significant strategic shift, AltStore is embracing the fediverse by integrating the ActivityPub protocol. This move will allow the platform to federate apps, updates, and news alerts directly to the open social web. Every AltStore source will have its own ActivityPub account, enabling users on platforms like Mastodon or Threads to follow, like, boost, and comment on app-related content. These interactions will then appear natively within the AltStore application, creating a seamless cross-platform experience. For instance, someone could post a comment about an app on Mastodon and see that same comment displayed inside AltStore.
To support this initiative, the AltStore team is collaborating with Mastodon gGmbH, which is managing a custom Mastodon server currently available in beta. They are also partnering with the nonprofit A New Social to enable Bluesky connectivity through the Bridgy Fed tool. These fediverse capabilities are expected to roll out to AltStore PAL within the coming months.
Financial backing for this expansion comes from a $6 million investment led by Chris Paik of Pace Capital, a Patreon board member. This capital infusion will enable AltStore to scale its team and accelerate development, particularly for finalizing fediverse integration and supporting worldwide growth. Paik will join AltStore’s board of directors alongside Flipboard CEO Mike McCue, who brings his own enthusiasm for decentralized social networking.
(Source: The Verge)
