TOKYO / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – Apple has introduced a significant innovation for iPhone users in Japan with iOS 26.2. For the first time, third-party voice assistants can be activated via the side button, allowing for greater flexibility and personalization.
Today’s daily deals at Amazon! ˗ˋˏ$ˎˊ˗
Apple has announced a remarkable innovation for iPhone users in Japan with the introduction of iOS 26.2. This version allows third-party voice assistants such as Alexa or Gemini to be activated directly via the side button. Previously, this feature was exclusive to Siri, making the new capability a significant addition to the user experience. Developers can now use the App Intents Framework to optimize their voice apps for this functionality.
However, the implementation of this feature is limited to Japan. Users will need to set both their location and their Apple account’s region settings to Japan to take advantage of the new options. This restriction is in line with Japanese competition law guidelines that force Apple to provide more flexibility and choice for software applications.
Interestingly, this functionality could also be expanded to other regions, particularly the European Union, which is pursuing similar regulatory requirements under the Digital Markets Act. For now, however, the feature remains limited to Japan, potentially serving as a test run for a global rollout later.
In addition to this innovation, iOS 26.2 adds support for third-party app stores and a selection of search engines for Safari during setup in Japan. These measures are part of Apple’s efforts to comply with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission requirements and give users more control over their devices.
Order an Amazon credit card without an annual fee with a credit limit of 2,000 euros!
Bestseller No. 1 ᵃ⤻ᶻ “KI Gadgets”
Bestseller No. 2 ᵃ⤻ᶻ “KI Gadgets”
Bestseller No. 3 ᵃ⤻ᶻ “KI Gadgets”
Bestseller No. 4 ᵃ⤻ᶻ “KI Gadgets”
Bestseller No. 5 ᵃ⤻ᶻ “KI Gadgets”
Please send any additions and information to the editorial team by email to de-info[at]it-boltwise.de. Since we cannot rule out AI hallucinations, which rarely occur with AI-generated news and content, we ask you to contact us via email and inform us in the event of false statements or misinformation. Please don’t forget to include the article headline in the email: “iOS 26.2: Third-party assistants for iPhones in Japan”.