In some time, we will be able to do without Apple Pay on our iPhone. At least, in Europe. The European Commission and Apple are preparing this change.
The European Union is stepping up its actions against Apple. A few months ago, it specifically targeted the contactless payment system Apple Pay. Indeed, in 2022, the European Commission ruled that Apple was infringing European competition rules by restricting access to NFC technology.
At the heart of the debate, Apple Pay, Apple’s payment system, is locked, limiting access to features NFC (Near Field Communication) on iOS devices. This approach differs radically from Android, where users can choose from several contactless payment options. The European Commission is seeking to break this monopoly, demanding that Apple open access to these technologies to third parties.
Limited opening to applications and users based in the European Economic Area (EEA)
Apple, while remaining firm on its position, has taken a step towards compliance. The company proposed developing APIs that would allow other developers to access the NFC components of its devices. This change, however, would be limited to apps and users based in the European Economic Area (EEA).
To frame this opening, Apple is considering setting up a licensing agreement. This would ensure that access to the NFC function is governed by fair, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria. Additionally, a dispute resolution mechanism is provided, allowing for an independent assessment of Apple’s decisions.
Currently, the European Commission is seeking opinions from all relevant parties on Apple’s proposals, giving one month to respond after these commitments are published in the Official Journal of the EU. The full text of Apple’s proposals, however, remains awaiting publication.