EU accepts Apple pledge letting rivals access 'tap to pay' on iPhones
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EU Accepts Apple's Plan to Open iPhone Payment System
In a significant development, the European Union has endorsed Apple's commitment to make its "tap to pay" iPhone payment system accessible to competitors. This decision aims to address and circumvent a substantial fine. The European Commission, which acts as the EU's executive branch and primary antitrust authority, announced on Thursday that it is accepting Apple's promises and will ensure these commitments are legally binding.
Antitrust Concerns
The Commission had previously accused Apple of abusing its dominant market position by restricting access to its mobile payment technology. In response to these allegations, Apple proposed in January to allow third-party mobile wallet and payment service providers access to the contactless payment feature in its iOS operating system. Following a period of testing and feedback, Apple made several adjustments to its proposals.
Commission's Conclusion
After evaluating these tweaks, the Commission concluded that Apple's final commitments would sufficiently address its competition concerns. These modifications are set to remain in effect for a decade and will apply across the EU’s 27 member countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. The implementation and adherence to these changes will be monitored by a trustee.
Apple's Statement
In an official statement, Apple revealed that it will provide European developers with the capability to enable contactless payments and transactions across a wide range of applications. Despite this opening up, Apple Pay and Apple Wallet will continue to be available for both users and developers.
