Apple introduce iPhone tap-to-pay
On Friday, the European Commission and Apple announced that the tech giant is ready to enable rival companies in the EU to use tap-to-pay on iPhones, addressing concerns about limiting users to its own ecosystem. The European Union's market regulator, the commission, is considering Apple's proposal following its determination that the company holds a dominant position in iOS mobile wallet transactions by excluding competitors. These transactions utilize Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, allowing users to simply tap their smartphone on a vendor's payment terminal instead of using a credit card with a microchip.
An Apple representative informed AFP that they have proposed commitments to give third-party developers in the European Economic Area (EEA) the capability for their users to conduct NFC contactless payments within their iOS apps, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
This capability is set to be accessible in the 27 EU countries and associated nations Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which collectively constitute the EEA.
The spokeswoman added, "Apple Pay will remain widely available, and more than 3,000 issuing banks across all EEA countries will still be able to provide the unmatched privacy and security of Apple Pay, along with its excellent user experience."
The European Commission announced that Apple had proposed to offer NFC access on iOS devices at no charge and would develop interfaces to allow competitors to securely store personal payment information for use in their own applications.
Access to these third-party applications would be limited to users with an Apple ID registered in the European Economic Area (EEA). However, the commission stated that "Apple will not prevent the use of these apps for payments in stores outside the EEA."
This decision has raised concerns about how consumers and regulators in non-EU markets, such as the United States, Britain, and Australia, might perceive the change and whether they would seek similar treatment.
The European Commission observed that, so far in Europe, "Apple's iPhones are exclusively powered by Apple's operating system (iOS), creating a ‘closed ecosystem'."
In May 2022, the EU accused Apple of engaging in anti-competitive practices by restricting access to NFC on its phones for other companies. This action followed an investigation initiated two years earlier in response to complaints from EU banks.
Brussels has previously compelled Apple to modify its products by mandating that all smartphones in the EU must feature USB-C ports.
As a result, Apple abandoned its slower Lightning port on new iPhone models last year, but this change was implemented globally, not just in the European market.
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