Apple Offers iPhone NFC Chip Access to Apple Pay Rivals in EU
Apple has offered to open up the iPhone near-field communication (NFC) system that Apple Pay uses to other payment services, in a possible effort to forestall impending EU regulatory action.
In a brief report Tuesday, Reuters said that Apple has offered to let rivals access the NFC system in iPhones, but it is not yet clear what Apple’s proposal involves. Banks have complained that Apple’s exclusive access to the NFC contactless chip in its devices privileges Apple Pay over other payment systems.
In May 2022, the EU antitrust watchdog officially objected to Apple restricting rivals’ access to its mobile tap-and-go technology, which made it difficult for competitors to develop alternative mobile wallet services on Apple devices.
Apple Pay competitor PayPal and other rivals reportedly played a role in the EU’s decision to target Apple with antitrust complaints about its mobile wallet. The company was said to have filed informal complaints about the way Apple restricts third-party apps from accessing the NFC capabilities of the iPhone, which led to the EC’s Statement of Objections against Apple.
The European Commission will now likely seek feedback next month from rivals and customers before deciding whether to accept Apple’s offer, according to people familiar with the matter who are cited in the report.
This is not the first time that Apple has faced criticism for restricting access to NFC on the iPhone. Australian banks back in 2017 wanted access to NFC in order to launch an alternative to Apple Pay, but they were not successful.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Popular Stories
Apple Releases iOS 17.2 With Journal App and More
Apple today released iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2, the second major updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes over a month after Apple released iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1, updates that brought new AirDrop, StandBy, and Apple Music features. iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going…
Best Buy’s New Weekend Sale Has Record Low Prices on MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
Best Buy’s month-long holiday sale continues this weekend with multiple all-time low prices on Apple’s line of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers. In addition to Apple notebooks, Best Buy’s event has discounts sitewide on home appliances, TVs, video games, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive…
iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal …
Top Stories: iOS 17.2 Coming Soon, New iPads in Early 2024, and More
Apple’s final set of major operating system updates for 2023 appears to be right around the corner, with iOS 17.2 and related updates likely coming next week to deliver a number of new features and improvements. This week also saw rumors about forthcoming updates for the iPad lineup and the MacBook Air, as well as the iPhone 16, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! …
Apple Confirms It Shut Down iMessage for Android App Beeper Mini
Apple today confirmed that it took steps to shut down the functionality of Beeper Mini, an app that enabled Android users to send and receive iMessages. Apple emphasized its commitment to user privacy and security, explaining that the move was necessitated by the potential risks Beeper Mini’s techniques posed, including metadata exposure and susceptibility to spam and phishing attacks….
Apple Puts a Stop to Beeper Mini’s iMessage for Android Feature
Apple appears to have closed the loophole that Beeper Mini used to bring iMessage to Android, putting a stop to blue bubbles from Android devices. Beeper Mini quit working earlier today, with users receiving “failed to lookup on server: lookup request timed out” error messages. Beeper said on Twitter that it is investigating the issue, but Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky told TechCrunch that “all …
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Hits New Record Low Price of $699, Alongside Series 9 and SE Sales
Amazon has a few big discounts on Apple Watch today, headlined by a new all-time low price on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Many of these watches can be delivered by Christmas, with delivery dates around the middle of next week for most models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site …
What’s Next for the iPad Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil
The iPad lineup is getting a major overhaul in 2024, with Apple introducing two new iPad Pro models and two new iPad Air models. To go along with the new iPads, Apple plans to debut updated versions of both the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. Magic Keyboard Apple is overhauling the Magic Keyboard, introducing a sturdier frame that’s made from aluminum rather than the more malleable…
