Update January 26, 2024: The opening of the NFC has beenofficially announced by Apple.
Significant transformations are underway in the Apple ecosystem, to comply with the various requirements of the European Union. As a reminder, the Cupertino company has already replaced the Lightinng port with USB-C, to comply with a new law. Apple also announced the interoperability of the iPhone with the RCS technology used by Android's default messaging. And to comply with the DMA, it could also end the App Store's monopoly on the distribution of applications on iOS.
Apparently, Apple could also, for the first time,allow Apple Pay competitorsto use the iPhone's NFC module, which allows you to offer contactless payment services. At least that's what a recent article published by Reuters indicates. Citing sources close to the matter, the agency indicates that this concession would have been proposed by Apple to the European Commission.
In 2022, Brussels hassent a statement of objections to Apple, accusing him of abuse of a dominant position.“By limiting access to standard technology for making contactless payments in stores using “Near Field Communication (NFC)” or “tap and go” mobile devices, Apple is restricting the competition in the mobile wallet market on iOS”, the Commission then announced. And today, this investigation is still ongoing.
Payments on iPhone open to competition
According to the Reuters article, the European Commission should first consult Apple Pay's competitors, and examine user feedback, before deciding whether or not to accept this offer from Apple. A decision should be made in 2024. In any case, opening NFC to competition would allow other payment services to offer contactless payments based on this technology, instead of using other systems, such as QR codes.
“Mobile payments play an increasingly important role in our digital economy. For the purposes of integrating European payments markets, it is essential that consumers benefit from a competitive and innovative payments landscape. We have evidence that Apple has restricted third-party access to key technology needed to develop competing mobile wallet solutions on Apple devices., declared Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president in charge of competition policy, when announcing the European Commission investigation in 2022.
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By : Keleops AG
