Apple in the crosshairs: Swiss researchers test NFC access in iPhones

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Apple is under antitrust scrutiny in Switzerland over its access to the NFC chip in the iPhone. The focus is on whether the conditions Apple sets for third-party providers restrict competition in the mobile payments and digital wallet solutions sector. The Swiss Competition Commission has launched a preliminary investigation. This case is the latest in a series of regulatory reviews Apple is facing worldwide.

The NFC chip is a key component of the iPhone. It enables contactless payments, digital tickets, ID cards, and keys for cars and doors. For a long time, this access was exclusively tied to Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Only after increasing regulatory pressure, particularly from the EU, did Apple open access to third-party providers. In Switzerland, it is now being examined whether this opening is truly fair or whether Apple's terms and conditions continue to hinder competition.

Investigation by the Swiss Competition Commission

The Swiss Competition Commission announced this week that it is investigating whether Apple's conditions for accessing its NFC chip could create competition problems. A key aspect of the investigation is whether other mobile payment app providers can effectively compete with Apple Pay for contactless payments with iOS devices in brick-and-mortar stores.

This is not just about theoretical access possibilities, but about actual market conditions. The Commission wants to clarify whether third-party providers have a realistic chance of offering comparable services under the current framework.

Apple opens NFC access

Last August, Apple opened up access to the iPhone's NFC chip to third-party developers worldwide. This move came a few months after similar measures were taken in the European Union. Technically, this access is based on the NFC & SE Platform API.

This interface allows third-party apps to use Apple Wallet features. These include contactless payments, digital keys for cars and doors, ID cards, event tickets, and other applications. This has, for the first time, enabled broader access to a previously tightly restricted core function of the iPhone.

Terms and fees as a point of contention

Despite the opening, access remains subject to clear conditions. Developers must conclude a commercial agreement with Apple and pay corresponding fees to access the iPhone's NFC chip and Secure Element. These conditions are now the focus of the antitrust review.

According to the Competition Commission, the potential problem lies less in the technical implementation of access and more in the contractual terms and costs set by Apple. These could put third-party providers at an economic disadvantage, even if technical access formally exists.

Dialogue with Apple and Swiss peculiarities

The Secretariat of the Competition Commission has been in dialogue with Apple since the beginning of 2024. The aim of these discussions was to grant Swiss app providers access to the NFC interface on iOS devices. As a result of this exchange, Apple has also been granting Swiss third-party providers access to the NFC and SE platforms since the end of 2024.

However, according to the Commission, the conditions for this access differ from those in the European Economic Area. These differences are now the subject of the preliminary investigation. The Secretariat continues to gather information and assessments from market participants to determine whether the current rules are compatible with Swiss competition law.

Decision still open, Apple remains in focus

The outcome of the investigation is currently pending. The Swiss Competition Commission is still examining whether Apple's conditions for NFC access unfairly restrict competition. However, it is clear that this case once again demonstrates how sensitive the handling of core technologies within the Apple ecosystem is.

Especially in the area of mobile payments, the iPhone's NFC chip remains a crucial factor. Whether Apple will have to adjust its terms and conditions or whether the current model will remain valid will only become clear after the preliminary investigation is completed. Until then, Apple remains under close scrutiny by competition authorities in Switzerland. (Image: Primakov / DepositPhotos.com)