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Apple's recent announcement to open NFC access on the iPhone marks a significant turning point in European payments. After a four-year investigation, the EU has dropped the antitrust case against Apple Pay.
In the ever-changing world of technology, access to innovative payment options is a critical factor for consumers and businesses. Apple's decision to open up the NFC chip to third-party vendors could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the competitive landscape but also for the way you conduct everyday transactions.
background of the decision
In January, Apple announced that it would change its policy to allow third-party vendors equal access to the NFC contactless chip in the iPhone. This change is a direct response to the EU investigations into alleged anti-competitive practices of Apple Pay. The EU showed was now satisfied with the changes made and discontinued the investigation.
What does the new NFC access mean?
With the new API access, apps from banks and alternative wallets can now access the NFC chip, meaning they can present themselves when you hold your iPhone near an NFC terminal or double-click the side button. This allows other payment services to compete directly with Apple Pay and establish themselves as the default wallet app on your device.
commitments and future developments
Apple has agreed to remove the licensing requirement for developers who need HCE payment authorization, and will continue to develop HCE support even if Apple Pay does not use these technologies. However, access will remain limited to the European Economic Area for now, with other governments potentially following suit.
Apple vs. EU: Further investigations and the Digital Markets Act
The EU has launched several competition investigations against Apple in recent years. In addition to the closed music streaming case, in which Apple had to pay a large fine, the fight to open up iOS to third-party apps continues. As part of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the EU is investigating other aspects of Apple's terms and conditions, including anti-steering rules and fee structures. (Photo by NiroDesign / Bigstockphoto)
