Thierry Breton warns Apple: its iPhones could be banned

• Apple is obliged to abandon Lightning in favor of USB-C in the European Union
• If the company does not comply, its iPhones may be banned from sale
• Apple would like to limit the speed of third-party chargers to turn the situation to its advantage, but the European Commission will not accept

Thierry Breton, theEuropean Commissioner for the Internal Market, sent a letter to Apple explaining that the restrictions put in place on the new mandatory charging standard on the continent are unacceptable. Hereby, the training engineer therefore warns the Apple firm that if it wishes to limit the power flow (or data transfer) of its iPhones when they are not connected to an official cable, it's nothing. However, it has been estimated, for several weeks now, that this is precisely what Tim Cook's company is preparing.

Indeed, the latter, avoiding the obligation of having to abandon its proprietary Lightning port in favor of a universal standard, could through this strategy compensate for the associated potential losses. We know that sales of third-party accessories, and particularly those certifiedMFi, bring royalties to Cupertino. But the company will nevertheless have to part with a large part of it. Putting a brake on the flow of competing chargers could, however, allow it to better sell its own accessories. However, these are often much more expensive, as demonstrated by the prices charged in Apple Stores and at resellers.

A ban in the making?

As Thierry Breton explains to clarify his remarks, “the devices“who have not complied with the new regulation”are notnot approvedon the European Union market“. Understand that if Apple does indeed offer its supposed iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro with a USB-C port that limits the competition, then the mobiles cannot be sold here.

The good news for Apple is that there is still time before it has to get up to speed: the potential sanctions will only be distributed as soon as2024. Time, therefore, to release another generation or two of mobiles with Lightning plugs.

Several alternatives

If, despite everything, Apple has to comply with the new rules, what will happen? There are four options to consider:

• limit the speed of third-party cables outside the European Union only (likely)
• stop the marketing of iPhones in Europe (unlikely)
• offer a simple Lightning to USB adapter in the box,like the Apple Pencil(unlikely)
• to be contentonly wireless charging(very likely)

Applewould workon a mobile that is powered only by induction for a long time, according to the patents published on this subject. But this value proposition would not see the light of day for several more years.