Show notes
In this RedMonk Conversation, senior analyst Kate Holterhoff is joined by Alex Moore, Executive Director of Open Web Advocacy (OWA), to unpack why the web has struggled to compete with native apps on mobile and what regulators are finally doing about it. Moore traces OWA’s origins from frustrated engineers to a global advocacy group. They explore the technical, economic, and competitive implications of blocking web apps on iOS, from developer productivity and install friction to security myths and the future of innovation. The discussion spans WebAssembly, PWAs vs. native apps, and major regulatory efforts like the EU’s Digital Markets Act, the UK’s DMCC, Japan’s Smartphone Act, and the US DOJ case against Apple.Show notes: https://redmonk.com/videos/alex-moore-open-web-advocacy/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Open Web Advocacy02:48 The Formation and Goals of OWA05:17 Apple's Dominance in Mobile Development07:45 Web Apps vs. Native Apps: The Debate10:39 The Future of Web Apps12:55 Security Concerns and Apple's App Store19:56 Conclusion and Future Outlook22:14 Security in Native vs Web Environments23:30 Advocacy Work and Legislative Landscape24:02 Digital Markets Act and Its Implications28:56 Global Movements: Japan and US Cases Against Apple32:08 Getting Involved: Advocacy and Community Engagement35:23 Call to Action: Pushing for Change in the Tech Landscape37:52 The Future of Tinkering and Innovation