Apple has revamped its app store policies in the European Union with hopes of fending off escalating fines under the 27-nation bloc's digital competition regulations. It's a last-minute bid by the iPhone maker to avoid further charges following a 500 million euro ($585 million) penalty in April.

A last-minute rule change lets European iPhone owners download apps from rival stores and developer websites, while introducing new fees that Apple hopes will satisfy regulators in Brussels.

Apple is changing its App Store policies in the EU in a last-minute attempt to avoid a series of escalating fines from Brussels. The $3 trillion iPhone maker will allow developers in the bloc to offer apps designed for the iOS operating system in places other than Apple’s App Store, the company said.