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According to a new report, Apple is set to come under fire over new anti-competitive allegations from the European Union that are likely to be made official next week.
Apple is confronted with the accusation (via Financial Times) that it unfairly monopolizes the mobile payment system on the iPhone by promoting Apple Pay and denying other services equal access to the iPhone's NFC hardware. Back in October, it was announced that a lawsuit over access to the iPhone's NFC hardware in relation to mobile payment systems was imminent. Currently, only Apple Pay is able to use the NFC chip for seamless contactless payments in retail stores, with users simply holding their iPhone to a payment terminal to initiate a contactless transaction. NFC access to third-party apps is severely limited: key NFC modes for mobile payments are off-limits to app developers, and other NFC features often require the app to be brought to the forefront to even work.
Apple Pay is also a thorn in the side of the EU
Small note: Some NFC functions in the background have been available for third-party apps since iOS 12. But the possibilities are not enough to enable an Apple Pay-like experience. Apple has already stated that full access to the NFC chip is restricted to protect customers from misuse or violation of privacy. The EU Commission has already filed a formal charge against the App Store regarding music streaming services, as Cupertino unfairly favors Apple Music over Spotify and other competitors. In addition to the NFC investigation, Apple's behavior in the area of mobile games is also being investigated. The EU's action comes at a time when Apple is coming under increasing pressure from laws such as the Digital Markets Act, which could force Apple to open up its platforms more than before and also allow sideloading of apps. (Photo by Unsplash / Christiann Koepke)
